I-17 Construction on April 18

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US.- Stretches of Interstate 17 in Phoenix will be closed this weekend while crews apply an asphalt sealant to refresh and extend the life of the freeway’s pavement.

The fog sealing, which the Arizona Department of Transportation has done along several other sections of Valley freeways in recent years, will be done along southbound I-17 on Saturday, April 18, and along northbound I-17 on Sunday, April 19, in areas between 19th Avenue near downtown and Peoria Avenue in the Metrocenter area.

According to a press release, the length of each closure will be adjusted as the work progresses on Saturday and Sunday. Crews will be prepared to reopen stretches of the freeway as they complete the fog sealing. Drivers should plan on using alternate routes while the following I-17 closures are in place:

• Southbound I-17 closed between Dunlap and 19th avenues from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, for asphalt sealing. Southbound on- and off-ramps closed in the area. Both I-10 ramps to southbound I-17 at the “Stack” interchange closed. DETOUR: Allow extra travel time and consider exiting ahead of the closure and using alternate routes. Alternate freeway routes include eastbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) to southbound State Route 51 to travel to I-10 near downtown Phoenix.
• Northbound I-17 closed between 19th and Peoria avenues from 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 19, for asphalt sealing. Northbound on- and off-ramps closed in the area. Both I-10 ramps to northbound I-17 at the “Stack” interchange closed. DETOUR: Allow extra travel time and consider exiting ahead of the closure and using alternate routes. Optional routes include either Loop 101 freeways (Pima or Agua Fria) in the East or West Valley areas. Drivers also can consider using westbound I-10 starting at the “Split” interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to northbound State Route 51 to reach north Phoenix destinations.

Fog sealing involves the use of specialized tanker trucks that spray a liquid asphalt emulsion on the freeway pavement. The process has been used with positive results in recent years on sections of I-10 and Loop 303 in the West Valley, Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in the East Valley as well as segments of Loop 101 (Agua Fria and Pima freeways).

With state highways essential to delivering goods and services, ADOT, its employees and its contractor partners are dedicated to delivering transportation improvement projects during the current public health situation. To learn more please visit azdot.gov/covid-19-resource-center.