Subject: Phoenix area weekend freeway closures (June 1-4) & Downtown Phoenix Traffic & METRO traffic restrictions update - May 31, 2007 Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007 10:05 PM Phoenix area weekend freeway closures (June 1-4); Eastbound I-10 closed at Broadway Curve Valley freeways will be closed or narrowed in several areas this weekend (June 1-4) while crews make improvements, including resurfacing eastbound I-10 at the Broadway Curve with quieter rubberized asphalt. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) encourages drivers to use alternate routes when possible while the following freeway restrictions are in place: 1. Eastbound Interstate 10 closed between 48th Street and Baseline Road from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (June 4) for rubberized asphalt paving. The ramp from eastbound I-10 to eastbound US 60 also closed. The ramp from southbound SR 143 to eastbound I-10 closed. Eastbound I-10 traffic will be detoured south on 48th Street and east on Baseline Road to reconnect with the freeway. ADOT recommends drivers consider alternate routes to avoid traffic backups along I-10. Eastbound I-10 drivers traveling in the downtown Phoenix area can use eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to southbound Loop 101 and reconnect with I-10 via the westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in Chandler. 2. Eastbound Interstate 10 closed between 7th Avenue and 7th Street from 11 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday (June 3) for cleaning and maintenance in the Deck Park Tunnel. Eastbound I-10 traffic will exit at 7th Avenue, go east on McDowell Road and return to I-10 at 7th Street. Eastbound I-10 on-ramps at 19th and 7th avenues closed. Drivers also should consider using alternate routes to avoid this overnight closure as well as the eastbound I-10 closure between 48th Street and Baseline Road (see item above). 3. Westbound US 60 ramp to eastbound I-10 (Tempe area) closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (June 4) for rubberized asphalt paving. Drivers who normally use this ramp can instead go south on Loop 101 to westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in the Chandler area to reach I-10. 4. Eastbound Interstate 10 narrowed to two lanes (right three lanes closed) between 83rd and 67th avenues from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (June 2) for lane striping on the freeway's new rubberized asphalt surface. Eastbound I-10 ramps between 83rd and 67th avenues closed. Drivers should plan on extra travel time and be prepared to merge safely when approaching this work zone. For a complete listing of freeway and highway closures or restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.com or call 5-1-1. Don't Trash AZ! _____ Downtown Phoenix Traffic Info to Tune into . from The Traffic Lady It's a magical musical weekend in Copper Square - but we're pulling no tricks when it comes to getting into downtown and finding convenient parking. From Frankie Vallie & The 4 Seasons to Charlie Daniels or the Kumbia All-Starz, Copper Square will be rockin. So make note of a few spots with construction and your journey will be a smooth one. And as always, a great way to stay connected to the latest, go to CopperSquare.com. Important Event & Construction Info: * Streetscape Improvements Taylor St. is closed between 2nd and 3rd streets through mid-August. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Fillmore or Monroe streets to travel east or westbound. * ASU Residence Hall Taylor St. is closed between 1st and 2nd streets for the duration of this project, approximately fourteen months. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Fillmore as an alternate route. * Utility Work Crews are conducting electrical work on Van Buren. One lane of east and westbound travel will be maintained between Central and 1st St. through mid-August. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Monroe as an alternate route. * Bridal Fashion Debut 5th St. will be closed between Washington and Jefferson on Sunday, June 3 for this event. Traffic Lady Tip: Use 7th St. for northbound travel. * Utility Work Crews will work on a sewer line on Polk St. beginning Saturday, June 2 at 4:00am thru Sunday, June 3 at 10:00am. Polk St. will be closed between 1st and 2nd streets and 2nd St. will be closed from Taylor to Van Buren. Access to parking garages and businesses will be maintained. Traffic Lady Tip: Use 1st St. for north and southbound travel and Fillmore for east and westbound travel. * Utility Work Crews are installing a new storm drain and water line on Van Buren. One lane of eastbound and westbound travel is open between 3rd and 1st streets through mid-June. Traffic Lady Tip: Use Monroe as an alternate route. Travel Tips: * If you are entering the Copper Square area from the south, take 7th St. to Lincoln. Head west on Lincoln and north on any of the cross streets for parking. * Due to light rail construction, you may want to avoid Central and 1st avenues. Instead, take 7th Ave. or 1st or 3rd streets. * Usually take Washington into Copper Square? Consider taking 16th or 24th streets to Van Buren and go west into the Copper Square area. Resources: * For complete information on parking, traffic, events and more, check out our website at www.CopperSquare.com or call the Copper Square Ambassadors at 602-495-1500. * For media inquiries only or interviews, call the Traffic Lady directly at 602-320-9100. Have a Great Weekend! Copper Square Traffic Lady Getting you downtown without a frown! _____ METRO traffic restrictions update - May 31, 2007 Phoenix, Ariz. - Light rail vehicle testing is underway. During some testing activities, traffic will be temporarily paused at intersections. Otherwise, traffic will flow normally alongside light rail vehicles. Vehicle testing will continue in this area for the next three to six months. Learn the rules of light rail safety. Visit MetroLightRail.org/safety on the Web. Obey traffic and pedestrian crosswalk signals. Do not walk on the tracks. Use designated cross walks along Washington Street between 44th and 56th streets. Never stop your car on the tracks. Look and listen for trains at intersections because light rail trains are quiet; listen for METRO's train bell and look for the train's flashing headlights. METRO construction will continue through December 2008 when we will begin carrying passengers. Construction crews are working hard to minimize impacts on traffic and to maintain customer access to businesses. Drivers are encouraged to enter the construction zone and to continue to patronize businesses along the light rail route. All restrictions and dates are tentative and are subject to change. For more information visit the METRO Web site at MetroLightRail.org and click on the Traffic Restrictions Update link just below the construction icon. For detailed information on construction in downtown Phoenix, including maps, visit the Archer Western Contractors Web page. PHOENIX LINE SECTION 1 New restriction Montebello Avenue at 19th Avenue Paving East and westbound traffic cannot cross 19th Avenue May 31 thru June 3 Ongoing restrictions Third Avenue at Camelback Road Storm drain and traffic signal installation Southbound traffic on Third Avenue cannot cross Camelback Road; northbound traffic will detour onto east or west Camelback Road Thru 5 p.m. June 5 11th Avenue at Camelback Road Rail installation Southbound 11th Avenue traffic cannot cross Camelback Road; northbound traffic will detour east or west at Camelback road Thru June 12 19th Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Camelback Road, and Camelback Road between 19th and Central avenues Utilities and METRO contractor work One lane open in each direction. Left turns at intersections are restricted: pay close attention to signage. Sections of 19th Avenue will occasionally close from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. for utility work through 2008. LINE SECTION 2 New restrictions Central Avenue and Osborn Road Water and sewer pipeline installation North and southbound traffic cannot cross Osborn Road; only right turns allowed onto Osborn; east and westbound traffic cannot turn left onto Central Avenue June 8-30 Lexington Street at Central Avenue Pothole reconstruction East and westbound traffic cannot cross Central Avenue 7 p.m. May 31 thru 5 a.m. June 1 Ongoing restrictions Glenrosa Avenue at Central Avenue Excavation East and westbound traffic cannot cross Central Avenue Thru June 2007 Indianola Street and Clarendon Avenue at Central Avenue Excavation for track East and westbound traffic cannot cross Central Avenue; north and southbound traffic OK Thru June 2007 Central Avenue between Camelback and McDowell roads Utility relocation, signal installation and storm drain work One lane open in each direction intermittently Ongoing LINE SECTION 3 Downtown Phoenix New restrictions 19th and 20th streets at Jefferson Street Major waterline work North and southbound traffic cannot cross Jefferson Street June 1 thru end of August 2007 11th Street at Washington Street Guideway construction North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street June 4 thru end of August 2007 Ongoing restrictions First Avenue between Van Buren and Fillmore streets Curb and gutter work One lane open for southbound traffic Thru June 2007 16th Street between Washington and Jefferson streets Rail installation One lane open for south and northbound traffic; northbound traffic may not turn left onto Washington Street Van Buren Street between First and Central avenues Curb and gutter work One lane open to east and westbound traffic Thru summer 2007 McDowell Road approaching Central Avenue Utility relocation East and westbound traffic reduced to one lane Thru December 2007 Central Avenue between Washington and Polk streets Curb and gutter work One lane open northbound on Central Avenue Thru summer 2007 Ninth and Jefferson streets Rail installation Traffic on Jefferson Street cannot turn right onto Ninth Street Thru June 2007 Fillmore and McKinley streets at First Avenue Rail installation East and westbound traffic cannot cross First Avenue Thru June 2007 PHOENIX / TEMPE LINE SECTION 4 New restrictions 40th Street at Washington Street Street reconstruction Northbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street; southbound traffic will detour west onto Washington Street; no left turns onto 40th Street from Washington Street June 1-3 40th Street at Washington Street Guideway construction at intersection North and southbound traffic cannot cross Washington Street; no left turns allowed in any direction; east and westbound traffic is one lane in each direction June 3 - June 18 Washington Street at 26th Street METRO contractor work Eastbound traffic cannot cross 26th Street 7 p.m. June 1 thru midnight June 2 Ongoing restrictions Washington Street between 26th and 48th streets Guideway construction and intersection replacement One lane open in each direction No end date set Washington Street between 48th Street and Mill Avenue Traffic loop installation Watch for changing restrictions No end date set LINE SECTION 5 (Tempe and Mesa) Upcoming restrictions Loop 101 from Loop 202 to University Avenue Installing signs Southbound Loop 101 restricted to two lanes; Eastbound Loop 202 cannot access Loop 101 south; University Drive on ramp to southbound Loop 101 closed June 8-9 New restrictions Rural Road between University Drive and Terrace Road Street slurry sealing One lane open north and southbound 4 p.m. June 3 - 6 a.m. June 4 Terrace Road from Rural Road to Lemon Street Street slurry sealing Street closed 4 p.m. June 3 - 6 a.m. June 4 Ash Avenue between First and Third Streets Street slurry sealing One lane open in each direction June 2-6 Rural Road between University Drive and Terrace Road Street slurry sealing One lane open in each direction June 2-6 Ongoing restrictions Intersection of Apache Boulevard and McClintock Drive Curb reconstruction Traffic in all directions restricted to one lane Thru June 8 Main Street between Roosevelt Drive and Sycamore Road Storm drain installation One lane open in each direction Thru June 7 Apache Boulevard between Terrace Road and Tempe Canal Road widening One lane open in all directions Thru June 30 First Street between Farmer Road and Ash Street Rail installation Local traffic only Thru June 13