PHOENIX – Two ramps connecting eastbound Loop 101 with Interstate 17 closed for two weeks on Friday, and closures of I-17 south of downtown Phoenix are scheduled this weekend.

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to allow extra travel time and use detour routes as needed while the following freeway restrictions are in place Friday-Monday, Aug. 15-18:

• Eastbound Loop 101 ramps to north- and southbound I-17 closed 12:30 a.m. Friday and will remain so until 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, for pavement repairs.

 Detours: Alternate freeway routes include Loop 101 to southbound SR 51 or using southbound Loop 101 in the West Valley to eastbound I-10 toward downtown Phoenix. Traffic exiting eastbound Loop 101 at 35th Avenue can use eastbound Deer Valley Road or Union Hills Drive to access I-17. Drivers in the Northwest Valley also can consider using Loop 303 to reach northbound I-17. Note: The westbound Loop 101 ramps to I-17 will remain open.

• Southbound I-17 will be closed between the I-10 “Stack” interchange south of McDowell Road and the I-10 “Split” interchange near Sky Harbor Airport from 9 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday for pavement maintenance.

 Detour: Drivers can use eastbound I-10 in the downtown Phoenix area.

• Northbound I-17 will be closed between the I-10 “Split” interchange near Sky Harbor Airport and the I-10 “Stack” interchange north of Van Buren Street from 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday for pavement maintenance.

 Detour: Traffic will detour on westbound I-10 starting at the Split interchange and can reconnect with I-17 west of 19th Avenue.

• Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard will be closed in both directions at Loop 101 from 9 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday for bridge work.

Detours: Traffic will detour using the Loop 101 frontage roads.

• The westbound Loop 202 on-ramp at Val Vista Drive will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday for a widening project.

The westbound Loop 202 right lane also will be closed between Val Vista Drive and Lindsay Road. Detour: Consider using the westbound on-ramps at Santan Village Parkway or Lindsay Road. Note: The eastbound Loop 202 on-ramp at McQueen Road will be closed from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

We would like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.