First phase improvements at U.S. 60, Loop 303 and 163rd Avenue are nearing completion, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT has been widening, paving and restriping the U.S. 60/163rd Avenue and U.S. 60/Loop 303 intersections to add more lanes and improve traffic flow.

Traffic is currently open in the new lane configuration, following work on Wednesay night. Final paving and temporary lane striping was scheduled to be completed on Thursday night.

Final striping of the new lanes is scheduled in late August, once the pavement has cured, but will not require any road closures.

The following is a breakdown of the newly completed improvements:

U.S. 60/Loop 303

Work has included adding a third left turn lane and second right turn from the northbound Loop 303 off-ramp to U.S. 60 and adding a second exit lane from northbound Loop 303 to U.S. 60.

ADOT has also added an additional through lane along westbound U.S. 60 at Loop 303 to accommodate the left-turning traffic from Loop 303 (approaching and departing the Loop 303 interchange ramps).

The additional lane allows for a greater volume of traffic to continue through the intersection while maximizing the green signal timing for the turning movements, ultimately avoiding a back-up along the U.S. 60/303 mainline as cars wait for the signal.

U.S. 60/163rd Avenue

Crews have added a third left turn lane from southbound 163rd Avenue to eastbound U.S. 60.

They have also a second right turn lane from westbound U.S. 60 to 163rd Avenue.

The existing east- and westbound U.S. 60 third lane to 163rd Avenue has been extended to provide three through lanes in each direction from the Loop 303 interchange to just beyond 163rd Avenue.

Lastly, ADOT added a second northbound through lane on 163rd Avenue from south of U.S. 60.

The second phase of interim improvements is planned to begin in early fall.

Those improvements include the following:

• Widening eastbound U.S. 60 approaching southbound Loop 303 to add an additional right turn lane.
• Widening southbound Loop 303 to extend the merge lane onto Loop 303.
• Widening southbound Loop 303 to the U.S. 60 ramp to have three dedicated left turn lanes onto westbound U.S. 60 and one right turn lane onto eastbound U.S. 60.

“As changes are implemented, ADOT and project partners will continue to evaluate the corridor’s operations to ensure it operates as efficiently as possible,” ADOT officials wrote in a news release.

Visit azdot.gov/us60-303-upgrades for information and to subscribe for project updates and traffic alerts by email.