Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) widening project nears completion

With major widening work completed and new lanes opened on the Loop 101 between Interstate 17 and Pima Road/Princess Drive, the project is heading into the home stretch, with all remaining work targeted for completion by late September, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Here are some highlights of the remaining work on the project:

Crews are currently wrapping up the diamond grinding concrete pavement treatment to smooth the final roadway surface. Remaining locations include the westbound off-ramp at 56th Street and the westbound on-ramp at 64th Street. This work is expected to be completed in early June.

Minor concrete spall repairs and joint sealing are next on the to-do list. This work will be performed during weekend full closures for the next several weeks.

Once concrete repairs and joint sealing are completed, the roadway will be ready for placement of final pavement markings and striping. Pavement marking and lane striping will also require some overnight and weekend freeway restrictions and closures, which will extend through late summer.

Landscaping Crews have begun installing trees and shrubs along the edge of the freeway in areas affected by project construction. Saguaros and other large, slow-growing trees, which were salvaged at the beginning of the project and stored at the project nursery, are now being replanted.

All remaining closeout work on the project is scheduled for completion by early fall 2021. Construction schedules are subject to change to due weather or other unforeseen conditions.

As a reminder, Loop 101 is still an active construction zone. For the safety of construction crews and drivers, temporary construction speed limits will continue to be 55 MPH along the Loop 101 until all work is completed on the freeway.