PHOENIX – Weekend closures of Interstate 17  in north Phoenix will begin this weekend for pavement improvements south of State Route 74/Carefree Highway.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has scheduled four weekend closures for final bridge and pavement improvements, including one from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10.

Northbound I-17 will be closed between Loop 303 and SR 74/Carefree Highway. Eastbound Loop 303 traffic approaching I-17 will be limited to a right turn onto southbound I-17 with no traffic crossing under I-17, ADOT officials stated in a release.

Drivers should allow extra time as northbound I-17 traffic exiting at Loop 303 will detour on the northbound frontage road to SR 74 to reach I-17.

“To limit delays for you and others use this primary detour route, even if a navigation app suggests another route. Avoid using local streets east of I-17 that are not designed to handle freeway traffic,” the release stated.

The schedule calls for three additional weekend closures:

• Southbound I-17 will be closed between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17.
• Northbound I-17 will be closed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24.
• Southbound I-17 will be closed between SR 74/Carefree Highway and Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, March 3.

The closure schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors, officials said.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.