New Section of Loop 303 Freeway Now Open in North Phoenix

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recently opened a brand new section of freeway in North Phoenix. Construction of this section began in January of 2009 and was officially opened to traffic on May 13, 2011.

The 14-mile segment consists of a four-lane divided roadway which connects Interstate 17 to Lake Pleasant Parkway before continuing on into Peoria and the West Valley.

The new stretch of the Loop 303 freeway will allow travelers headed into town from Northern Arizona to bypass the heavier traffic of Phoenix and get to the West Valley including Peoria, Surprise, and Waddell before connecting to Goodyear. This should also help reduce traffic on the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway as well.

While this new section of freeway is a tremendous achievement, the Loop 303 is far from complete. Currently, the new section only has two exits at Happy Valley Road and Lake Pleasant Parkway. The Lone Mountain Parkway exit should open in the Fall of 2011, and the Pyramid Peak Parkway exit is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2012.

ADOT officials say the Loop 303 should connect to Interstate 10 in Goodyear by 2015, with another interchange planned at US 60 sometime between 2016 and 2025.

For more information and updates about construction on the Loop 303 freeway, please visit the Arizona Department of Transportation at www.azdot.gov.