Eastbound U.S. 60 Could Open Next Week In Tempe

TEMPE, AZ — The eastbound lanes of U.S. 60 in Tempe could open early next week, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The highway has been closed in both directions since last Saturday when a city of Tempe water transmission line broke near the highway, flooding it and spilling out an estimated 8 million gallons of water.

New concrete was poured Thursday to replace the damaged area of the eastbound HOV lane of U.S. 60 near McClintock Drive, according to the city.

The department of transportation does not have an estimate of when the westbound lanes of U.S. 60 will open, since more pavement was damaged on that side of the highway. Crews on Thursday were working to remove the old surface of the westbound lanes.

The city still doesn't know what caused the water line to break and it doesn't have an estimate for how much repairs will cost.

The burst pipe was a steel cylinder around 50 years old, and had an estimated lifespan of around 75 years, according to city officials.

The McClintock overpass that spans U.S. 60 is reopened, but with restrictions. Only one northbound lane and one southbound lane were open as of Thursday and the left turn lanes were closed.

The city advised that drivers use other routes and avoid McClintock Drive between Southern Avenue and Baseline Road. Tempe does not have an estimate for when the overpass will fully reopen.

The department of transportation completely closed the overpass on Wednesday while structural engineers looked at possible settling cracks in some of the bridge column supports where there had been standing water after the transmission line burst.

The pedestrian bridge east of the overpass that spans the highway is open.

Highway closure information from the Arizona Department of Transportation:

Eastbound U.S. 60 between the I-10 interchange and McClintock Drive is closed. The eastbound on ramp to U.S. 60 at McClintock Drive is open but drivers should expect delays because of heavy traffic and possible restrictions related to road work. The southbound State Route 143 on ramp at University Drive is also closed.

Westbound U.S. 60 between Loop 101 and McClintock Drive is also closed. U.S. 60 on ramps at McClintock Drive, Rural Road and Mill Avenue are open.