HOV lanes on 51 to open soon

Work crews are in the homestretch. This month the Arizona Department of Transportation will open an HOV lane in each direction between Shea and Tatum boulevards. Last month, workers added the final one-inch layer of rubberized asphalt along the approaches to the carpool lane bridge. The relatively short stretches on each end of the bridge are critical to connecting the high occupancy vehicle lanes between SR 51 (Piestewa Freeway) and Loop 101.

At stake: Work on the $40.2 million project began in June 2007 on the Phoenix freeway that carries traffic from Loop 101 in the north to the Interstate 10/Loop 202 interchange in the south. The lanes will open within weeks. During the weekday morning and afternoon rush hour periods, 6-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m., the HOV lanes can be used by buses, motorcycles, approved alternative or hybrid vehicles, and vehicles carrying two or more people. At all other times, including weekends, the lanes are open to all vehicles.

The freeway construction is funded with the half center sales tax under the 2004 voter-approved Proposition 400.

What's next: Overnight crews will complete permanent lane striping, add reflective raised pavement markers, remove the temporary barrier wall and install cable barriers along the Loop 101 median near the interchange.

"We are down to a day-to-day situation," said Doug Nintzel, ADOT spokesman. "Our contractor plans to open the connecting bridge as soon as possible this month. We'll have a better idea next week, after we see how the nighttime work to add permanent lane stripes over the temporary markings goes this week."

Learn more: Valleyfreeways.com