Arizona Avenue Off-Ramp Closure and South Valley I-10 Widening Impact Thursday Commute

Morning Commute Overview for Thursday, February 19, 2026

Good morning, Phoenix. Commuters heading into the downtown core this morning are seeing a significantly improved experience on the I-10 Broadway Curve compared to this time last year, following the completion of the major reconstruction project last May. However, new regional projects and specific arterial closures are creating fresh bottlenecks in the East Valley and South Phoenix. Drivers should allow extra time for surface street detours and the ongoing widening project south of the city.

Major Highway Restrictions and Closures

The most significant impact for East Valley drivers today is the continued closure of the westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) off-ramp at Arizona Avenue. This closure began earlier this week and is expected to remain in place for approximately 60 days. Commuters are advised to use the McQueen or Alma School Road off-ramps as alternatives. Additionally, looking toward the weekend, the southbound Loop 101 ramp to eastbound Loop 202 is scheduled to close Friday night, so start planning your alternate Friday afternoon routes now.

To the south, the Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project is officially in its second phase of widening. While construction began in January, work is now intensifying on the 10-mile stretch between Gas Line Road and State Route 387. Expect narrowed lanes and shifting traffic patterns if you are commuting between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Speed limits in these zones have been reduced to 55 mph for safety.

City Street Alerts and Utility Work

Within the city limits, several major intersections and corridors are seeing partial closures that may impact your local route:

• 16th Street and Buckeye Road: Partial closures are in effect for ongoing utility work through March 4. This is causing significant stacking during the morning rush.
• Roosevelt Street to 16th Street: Drivers should expect partial restrictions due to private development work. These restrictions are scheduled to last through February 26.
• 107th Avenue: Between Miami Avenue and Albeniz Place, partial closures continue to slow traffic in the West Valley.

Valley Metro Transit Updates

The Valley Metro light rail continues to operate its new two-line system following the South Central Extension opening. The A Line provides east-west service from Mesa to the Downtown Hub, while the B Line serves north-south commuters from Metro Parkway to Baseline Road. For those heading to the State Capitol, remember that the recent City Council shift toward the West Phoenix Extension means the Capitol-area bus shuttles remain the primary connection from the light rail hub for the foreseeable future.

Weekend Preview: I-17 and Loop 303

A major project is set to kick off this weekend at the I-17 and Loop 303 interchange. ADOT will begin adding travel lanes and ramps starting Saturday, February 21. While today’s traffic is unaffected, expect I-17 to be narrowed to two lanes in both directions near Dove Valley Road starting Friday night. Early preparation work may be visible throughout the day today along the North Phoenix corridor.