Reminder: SR 51 pavement improvement project starts Friday night (March 13)

PHOENIX – A project to improve the pavement surface along State Route 51 between the Interstate 10 “Mini-Stack” interchange and Shea Boulevard in Phoenix is scheduled to start this weekend (March 13-16), according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

This is the first in a series of weekend closures along sections of the 10-mile-stretch of SR 51. The closures will allow crews to remove a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement. 

Southbound SR 51 is scheduled to be closed between Cactus Road and Northern Avenue from 9 p.m. Friday, March 13, to 5 a.m. Monday, March 16, for asphalt pavement removal. Drivers should plan to use alternate routes including southbound Interstate 17. Traffic exiting southbound SR 51 at Cactus Road will be detoured west along Cactus/Thunderbird roads to southbound Seventh Street and eastbound Northern Avenue.

Over the next several months, crews will use the concrete pavement treatment known as diamond grinding to provide a smoother ride. The process removes a thin layer of the concrete surface while adding small grooves to the pavement to help limit tire noise. In addition to weekend closures, the work will require weeknight lane and ramp restrictions or closures.

The $17.8 million SR 51 pavement improvement project is scheduled for completion this fall. In addition to weekend closures, the work will require weeknight lane and ramp restrictions or closures.

Diamond grinding of concrete pavement has been completed along several stretches of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, US 60, Loop 101 and Loop 202. 

The SR 51 pavement improvement project is scheduled under the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan and is funded through voter-approved Proposition 479. Funding sources include a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in the Phoenix region.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov and via the AZ511 app (download free for Apple and Android devices). ADOT also provides highway condition updates via its X feed, @ArizonaDOT.

Here's this weekend's southbound SR 51 closure and detour map: