For years, Loop 101 (Price Freeway) drivers have been clamoring for HOV lanes on the Southeast Valley freeway. Now, their construction is about to begin.
Beginning Friday (Aug. 1st) drivers will notice the establishment of a construction zone in phase one of the project in the median of Loop 101 between Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) & Baseline Road. Phase two of the project will begin next year, stretching from Baseline Road to Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) & the entire stretch from north to south will be under construction at that time.
To establish the construction zone, freeway closures are needed the next two weekends as crews install barricades & restripe the freeway, measures that will enable all travel lanes to remain open for the majority of the project.
Northbound Loop 101 will be closed at 11 pm Friday through 5 am Monday (Aug. 4th) from Baseline Road to Rio Salado Parkway. Then next weekend (Aug. 8th-11th), southbound Loop 101 closes during the same timeframe.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid this area over the weekend & seek alternate routes. However, drivers choosing to use northbound Loop 101 this weekend will exit at Baseline Road & use the frontage road to Rio Salado Parkway & then re-enter the freeway. Next weekend, drivers traveling south on Loop 101 will exit at Rio Salado Parkway & use the frontage road & re-enter the freeway at Baseline Road. In addition, northbound ramps from the US 60 (Superstition Freeway) will be closed this weekend & southbound ramps from the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) will be closed next weekend.
Once the Loop 101 (Price Freeway) HOV lanes are completed, they can be used by vehicles with two or more occupants, qualified hybrid vehicles & motorcycles during peak travel times, between 6 & 9 am and 3 & 7 pm Monday through Friday. Also, the new lanes will accommodate expanded express bus service for the Southeast Valley.
The Loop 101 (Price Freeway) project is part of an effort to provide HOV lanes for the entire route between Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) & I-17. HOV lanes on Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to Princess Drive in Scottsdale are expected to be completed this winter.
The HOV projects are part of the Regional Transportation Plan for Maricopa County & are funded through Proposition 400, a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to improve & construct new transportation facilities throughout the Valley.
For updated traffic information across Arizona, call 5-1-1.