Severe Lane Restrictions on I-10 Eastbound and Loop 303 Construction Kick-Off

Morning Commute Overview

Good morning, Phoenix commuters. This is your traffic update for Thursday, January 22, 2026. We are seeing a mix of major project milestones and immediate bottlenecks this morning. While the recently completed flex lanes on Interstate 17 north of the Valley are providing significant relief for those traveling from Anthem, southern and northern corridors are facing fresh challenges as several multi-year expansion projects enter critical phases today.

Major Freeway Alerts

The most significant impact to your morning drive is on Eastbound I-10. As part of the ongoing Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project, eastbound lanes are restricted to a single lane between Casa Blanca Road and SR 387. This bottleneck is necessary for earthwork and bridge preparation. Drivers heading toward Casa Grande or Tucson should expect heavy delays throughout the morning and consider using SR 87 or SR 347 as alternates if possible.

In the North Valley, today marks the beginning of preliminary work for the I-17 and Loop 303 interchange improvement project. This $129 million effort, the first to be funded by Proposition 479, will eventually add direct freeway-to-freeway ramps. For today, expect crews on the shoulders and potential intermittent lane narrowing near 51st Avenue. Additionally, Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) continues to see construction activity between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive, though the new lanes are open and provided substantial relief during the early rush hour.

Local Roadworks and Transit

Within the city, several surface street restrictions remain in place:

• 15th Avenue: Partial closures continue between Maricopa Street and Yavapai Street for street transportation work. Today is the scheduled final day for this specific restriction, but commuters should still plan for delays in the area.
• Grand Avenue (US 60): While the road is open, ADOT is hosting a critical public meeting today regarding the future of the 35th Avenue and Indian School Road intersection. Expect slightly higher police presence and traffic near the meeting venue in the afternoon.
• Loop 202 (Santan Freeway): Widening efforts between Loop 101 and Val Vista Drive are at the halfway mark. Watch for narrowed lanes and reduced speed limits through the Chandler and Gilbert stretches.

Public Transport Updates

Valley Metro reports that all bus and light rail systems are operating on a regular weekday schedule today. However, commuters should prepare for upcoming service adjustments scheduled for next week. If your route involves downtown Tempe, be aware that the Mill Avenue closures for the upcoming Unity Walk will begin in two days, though no transit impacts are reported for this morning.

Drive safely, maintain a following distance in construction zones, and allow an extra 20 minutes if your route involves the I-10 Eastbound corridor.