Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) officials have initiated a Phoenix bridge replacement project they said would increase commercial truck clearance beneath and aid a future light rail line.
The $13.5 million project calls for a portion of Interstate 17 south of downtown Phoenix to be restricted beginning this weekend through fall 2021. The effort would be complementary to Valley Metro’s planned Central Avenue light rail route.
Southbound I-17 will be closed at Seventh Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Sunday, May 3. Northbound I-17 will be closed between the I-17 split interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Seventh Avenue from 3 a.m. Sunday, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 4.
The scope of work on the existing bridge, which first opened to traffic in 1962, involves I-17 being narrowed to two lanes in both directions as the project proceeds with work zones in place after this weekend while additional closures will be scheduled for the bridge replacement work.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials indicated ADOT, its employees, and contractor partners are focused on delivering transportation improvement projects – aware that state highways are vital to goods and services delivery.
The work is scheduled for completion in fall 2021. Motorists have the option of considering I-10 as an alternate freeway route.
Motorists seeking more information are asked to access azdot.gov/I17CentralBridge.