I-10 Closures: Parts Of Interstate To Close Next 2 Weekends

PHOENIX, AZ — Interstate closures over the next two weekends will impact Phoenix-area drivers looking to head downtown or to pass by it.

Portions of I-10 near downtown Phoenix will be closed during that time for routine inspections at the Deck Park Tunnel, according to a news release from the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The department recommends planning ahead and using alternate routes, including I-17 south of the downtown area.

Interstate-10 east will be closed between the I-17 stack interchange and Seventh Street from 9 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday. The closure includes ramps from I-17 to I-10 east at the stack.

Traffic headed east on I-10 can detour to I-17 south and return to I-10 near the airport. The department also recommends that drivers consider exiting ahead of the closure and using local routes to access the downtown area. State Fair traffic from the West Valley can exit ahead of the closure at 35th or 27th avenue and head north to Thomas Road to access the fairgrounds.

Interstate-10 west will be closed between the State Route 51/Loop 202 “mini stack” interchange and Seventh Avenue from 9 p.m. Oct. 22 to 10 a.m. Oct. 24. The closure will include 51 south and and Loop 202 west ramps to I-10 west at the mini stack.

I-10 traffic headed west can detour to I-17 north starting near the airport and reconnect with I-10 at the stack interchange north of Van Buren Street. The westbound I-10 ramps to 51 north and Loop 202 east will stay open. Drivers using the westbound Sky Harbor Boulevard ramp to I-10 west will be restricted to access to 51 north or Loop 202 east.

State Fair traffic from the East Valley can use I-17 north starting near the airport to reach northbound 19th Avenue or plan on exiting Loop 202 west ahead of the I-10 closure at 32nd or 24th street and use westbound McDowell or Thomas roads to reach the fairgrounds.

Inspections of the I-10 Deck Park Tunnel are completed every two years, the department said. Engineers inspect the structure and other features, including ventilation, lighting, electrical and fire suppression systems. The tunnel opened to traffic in 1990.