Eastbound Loop 303 closes nightly through Friday morning

Eastbound Loop 303 will close overnight between 43rd Avenue and Interstate 17 through Friday morning as crews continue work on the freeway’s new system interchange in north Phoenix.

The Arizona Department of Transportation scheduled the full closure from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, with the final closure ending at 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16. The schedule leaves two more overnight closures for drivers traveling toward I-17: Wednesday night into Thursday morning and Thursday night into Friday morning.

ADOT’s recommended detour sends drivers north on 43rd Avenue, east on Dove Valley Road and then to I-17. Drivers headed toward Sonoran Desert Drive can take Dove Valley Road east to North Valley Parkway and turn south.

The southbound I-17 entrance ramp at Dixileta Drive also closes during the same overnight hours. ADOT advises drivers to use the southbound I-17 frontage road to Jomax Road to enter the freeway.

Height limit and westbound restriction continue

The short-term overnight closures overlap with two longer restrictions in the same construction zone.

A 15-foot vehicle-height limit is in effect on eastbound Loop 303 between 43rd Avenue and I-17 through early December. That restriction is particularly important for commercial vehicles, oversized loads and equipment haulers that may need another route.

Westbound Loop 303 remains narrowed to one lane between I-17 and 43rd Avenue through October. The posted speed limit in that portion of the work zone is 45 mph. ADOT suggests that drivers trying to avoid the bottleneck use the northbound I-17 exit at Dove Valley Road, travel west and take 43rd Avenue south to Loop 303.

The broader construction zone carries a 55 mph speed limit.

What the Loop 303 project is building

The restrictions are part of ADOT’s roughly 2½-year project between Lake Pleasant Parkway and I-17. Construction began in January 2026.

The work includes a third general-purpose lane in each direction, direct ramps linking Loop 303 and I-17, bridges for a future interchange at 67th Avenue, drainage, lighting and new signs. ADOT says the project is being delivered with the Maricopa Association of Governments and the cities of Phoenix and Peoria. Part of the funding comes from Proposition 479, the regional transportation sales tax Maricopa County voters approved in 2024.

ADOT expects overnight and weekend restrictions to continue as the project advances. Drivers can check the agency’s Loop 303 project page for the latest schedule.

West Valley Post maintains a broader Loop 303 Development & Infrastructure Tracker covering major construction, development and transportation changes along the corridor.