Freeway crews will be working this weekend on a traffic shift that will require detours around a section of State Route 143, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Work to close the road between Loop 202 and Interstate 10 will begin at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, ending at 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26. The ramps from Loop 202 to southbound SR 143 will be closed.

ADOT also announced the following ramps will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday: 

• The southbound SR 143 on-ramps at McDowell Road, Washington Street, Sky Harbor Boulevard and University Drive.
• The westbound Loop 202 off-ramp at Sky Harbor Boulevard.

Westbound Loop 202 Detour: Use westbound Loop 202 to eastbound I-10 to access destinations south of the closure.

Eastbound Loop 202 Detour: Use eastbound Loop 202 to southbound Loop 101 to westbound US 60 to access destinations south of the closure. 

Airport Access: Use northbound SR 143 or southbound 44th Street from Loop 202.  

Southbound SR 143 to eastbound I-10 flyover ramp to open: When southbound SR 143 reopens, drivers can expect a new lane configuration:

• Southbound 48th Street will be closed between I-10 and Broadway Road. The closure is  expected to last into September. 
• Drivers should use the new southbound SR 143 flyover ramp to access eastbound I-10. To reach southbound 48th Street, use westbound I-10 to southbound 40th Street to eastbound Broadway Road.

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