Drivers should budget extra time this weekend if they plan to travel  along Interstate 17 in the north Valley, transportation officials said.

A pavement improvement project will take traffic off and back on at Jomax Road and reduce the freeway to one lane until Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive.

The closure at Jomax Road using the off- and on-ramps and the lane restrictions are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, and end by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12. Northbound drivers should plan for delays, especially from morning to early afternoon Saturday and Sunday. 

To help keep traffic moving through the work zone, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation, Jomax Road will be closed at I-17 other than for northbound drivers exiting the freeway to turn right.

Crews are working to improve the ride on six miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74.  ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74.

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