Northbound Interstate 17 is scheduled to be closed this weekend between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 in north Phoenix for pavement improvement work.

Work will be taking place from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, requiring the closure of northbound I-17 on-ramps at Deer Valley and Pinnacle Peak as well, state transportation officials said in a release.

The posted detour follows westbound Happy Valley Road to northbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and eastbound Loop 303 back to I-17.

“The reverse of that route moved traffic efficiently throughout last weekend’s southbound I-17 closure between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road,” the release stated.

ADOT offers these additional tips:

• Northbound I-17 drivers should avoid attempting to use other local streets as alternate routes.
• Motorists, especially drivers of large trucks, can consider using Interstate 10 in the West Valley to northbound Loop 303 as an alternate detour.  
• Those with weekend plans to use northbound I-17 through the north Valley can consider traveling before Friday night’s closure begins. Traffic on northbound I-17 also generally is lighter during the early morning hours or later at night and is expected to be especially busy by mid-morning Saturday.
• ADOT will be placing local-only closures at neighborhood entrances on both sides of I-17 to help direct detour traffic away from local roads. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow.
• ADOT also is taking steps to reduce the chances that navigation apps will direct drivers to other local roads. Staying on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest will reduce delays for yourself and others.  

The work is designed to improve the ride on six miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74, according to ADOT.

This is the last of an initial series of four weekend closures “so crews can safely and effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the freeway reopens,” transportation officials said.

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