Significant Sunday Delays: Loop 202 Closure in Gilbert and Downtown Light Rail Testing

Sunday Freeway Alerts: Loop 202 and Loop 101

Commuters in the East Valley should prepare for significant disruptions this morning, Sunday, March 1, 2026. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has confirmed that eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) is closed between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive in Gilbert. This closure is necessary for paving as part of the ongoing widening project and is expected to remain in place until 12:00 PM today. Additionally, the eastbound Loop 202 on-ramps at McQueen, Cooper, and Gilbert roads are currently closed. Drivers are advised to use eastbound US 60 or local routes like Pecos and Germann roads as alternates.

In the North Valley, the ramp from eastbound Loop 101 to southbound SR 51 was scheduled to reopen at 5:00 AM this morning following lane striping work. While that connection is now active, motorists should still expect narrowed lanes—specifically, the right three lanes—on eastbound Loop 101 between Cave Creek Road and SR 51 through the remainder of the morning. In the West Valley, 75th Avenue remains closed in both directions near Loop 101 for widening activities; use 67th or 83rd avenues to navigate the area.

Public Transport: Light Rail Shutdown in Downtown Phoenix

Valley Metro has issued a major service alert for light rail riders today. In preparation for the full integration of the South Central Extension and Downtown Hub, crews are conducting extensive system testing. As a result, light rail stations in and around downtown Phoenix are closed to passenger service today, Sunday, March 1. The impacted area stretches between the 44th St/Washington station and the Roosevelt/Central Ave stations.

• Shuttle buses are running every 15 minutes to serve all closed stations in the downtown corridor.
• Full rail service is expected to resume early Monday morning, March 2.
• The Van Buren/1st Ave and Van Buren/Central Ave stations are completely closed for all rail traffic except for testing vehicles.

Local Traffic: Events and Surface Street Detours

Drivers navigating central Phoenix this morning should be aware of the Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K Run. The event is impacting traffic flow from 5:00 AM until approximately 2:00 PM. Specifically, Valley Metro Route 15 is on detour, and various surface streets near the memorial site are restricted. Furthermore, bus routes 81, 90, and 94 are experiencing detours between 4:00 AM and 2:00 PM today due to scheduled community events near the downtown area. Please allow at least an extra 20 minutes for any trips passing through the city center.