Southbound Interstate 17 will be closed this weekend between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road, state transportation officials said.

Pavement improvement work is continuing in the area, forcing a detour from 10 p.m. July 26 until 5 a.m. July 29, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Traffic will detour on westbound Loop 303 to southbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and use eastbound Happy Valley Road to return to I-17.

ADOT offers these tips:

• Southbound I-17 drivers should avoid attempting to use local streets east of I-17 as alternate routes. “This is a recipe for longer delays and inconvenience for all,” officials said. The posted detour, which will be monitored by off-duty officers and project staff, is the most efficient way to move through the area near the closure.   
• Expect traffic backups. The best times to travel during the closure are early morning or later at night. Traffic is expected to be especially busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
• ADOT will be placing local-only closures at neighborhood entrances on a number of streets near I-17 to help direct detour traffic away from local roadways. 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 is the best way to reduce delays, transportation officials said.

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