ADOT begins Loop 303 Expansion to support Goodyear commuter growth

As the West Valley continues its rapid economic expansion, local infrastructure mainstays are shifting gears to meet a growing commuter demographic. The Arizona Department of Transportation will break ground Monday, June 15 on a $613 million corridor extension, transforming a primary local thoroughfare into a major multi-lane freeway to anchor the city's expanding industrial and residential sectors.

The massive four-year engineering project will construct a four-mile southern extension of Loop 303, stretching from its current terminus at Van Buren Street down to Maricopa County 85. The new freeway segment will primarily mirror the current footprint of Cotton Lane.

According to ADOT's master design plans, the infrastructure expansion will build three general-purpose lanes in each direction between Van Buren Street and Lower Buckeye Road, narrowing to two lanes in each direction between Lower Buckeye Road and MC 85. The expansion is designed to lay the groundwork for an eventual connection to the state's planned State Route 30 bypass.

Structural enhancements along the new four-mile stretch include:

• Interchange Overhauls: Completion of the southern half of the Van Buren Street traffic interchange, alongside a new full diamond interchange at Yuma Road.
• Access Adjustments: Half-diamond interchanges built at both Lower Buckeye Road and Elwood Street, elevating the primary freeway over local cross streets and existing Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
• Frontage Road Networks: Construction of dedicated, one-way frontage roads running parallel to the main lanes to ensure local business and neighborhood accessibility is fully preserved throughout the build.

ADOT stated that commuters should prepare for shifting traffic patterns this fall when crews complete a new northbound frontage road and divert all existing north- and southbound Cotton Lane traffic onto it to clear the central median for heavy freeway construction.

ADOT officials stated that the majority of lane restrictions and ramp closures will be restricted to overnight hours and weekends to reduce gridlock, but temporary local cross-street closures lasting up to 60 days will be necessary as the project advances.

Visit azdot.gov for more information.