ADOT acknowledges frustration of Interstate 17 closure on Mother's Day weekend

The Arizona Department of Transportation asked for patience from motorists using Valley roadways that had partial closures on Mother's Day weekend.

Work crews closed southbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix as a pavement improvement project begins, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Officials said the project, between State Route 74 and Happy Valley Road, would require several closures and weeknight lane restrictions as the project progresses during the coming months.

The closure was from southbound I-17, between SR 74/Carefree Highway and Loop 303, from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Southbound on-ramps also were closed at Daisy Mountain Drive and Pioneer Road.

To avoid the area, ADOT suggested motorists go west on SR 74 to southbound Lake Pleasant Parkway and eastbound Loop 303 to access I-17.

The closures came as many likely attempted to make their appointments with family for Mother's Day brunch.

Steve Elliott, a department spokesperson, acknowledged that some people might have been frustrated by the closures occurring during a holiday like Mother's Day, but maintained the improvements were necessary to ensure vital roads were well-maintained.

"There is no good time to close a freeway, especially in this area of I-17 with few detour routes available," Elliott said. "We understand the impact of such a closure and of this closure in particular. We have conducted extensive outreach to help drivers plan ahead. Concerns from drivers and area residents have been shared with the project team and ADOT’s Central District, and they prompted changes today. The good news is this project is making much-needed improvements to the I-17 pavement surface."

Elliott noted that ADOT limits road closures involving holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, but said Mother's Day was not a state holiday.

"We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we work to improve pavement conditions on this key corridor."

People on social media complained about the travel delays, saying they were on the road for hours.

"Driving back down from Cottonwood area," one post on Reddit said. "Supposed to be a two hour drive, so far on hour six, with four of them in traffic. Looking at likely at least two more hours. No cops directing traffic, nothing. It’s a free for all. Seems like they couldn’t have handled this any worse."

Some users, however, didn't offer much sympathy.

"It has been all over the news for the last week," a user replying to the post said. "I can't understand why anyone would use I17 without checking traffic. It is always a mess on the weekends."

People also shared their frustrations on an ADOT Facebook post regarding the closures. Some residents complained that the alternate routes motorists were using negatively impacted their own ability to travel.

"Currently on lockdown in my own home because cars are getting off at pioneer and going through our neighborhood in Tramonto - instead of the route above," Heather Kleeman wrote. "Can ADOT have a better plan in place next weekend? Perhaps cops directing traffic?"

ADOT's Elliott said Sunday that based on the number of drivers deciding to use routes other than the designated detour, resulting in community concerns, its contractor added law enforcement officers and adjusted signal timing with a goal of reducing backups on the east side of I-17.

Others were just frustrated about closures on this particular weekend — between Mother's Day and Northern Arizona University's four graduation ceremonies in Flagstaff.

"4 hours to get home to Surprise from Flagstaff, last night," Jon Ponsford commented. "Unconscionable, that a major freeway and the only freeway between northern and southern AZ would be totally closed. The reroutes have traffic backed up as far as one can see."

"I don’t know who’s bright idea it was to close (Interstate) 17 on freaking Mother’s Day weekend, but they need a little evaluation on thought process in the future," Lisa Lauenberg wrote.

"We considered various events and activities along the I-17 corridor this weekend, including NAU graduation and move-out, and determined that a southbound closure would have the least impact on those attending graduation ceremonies or driving up to NAU to help their Lumberjacks move out," Elliott said.

With more weekend closures occurring for this work in the coming weeks, Elliott said ADOT encouraged drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ADOT acknowledges frustration of I-17 closure on Mother's Day weekend