As I pulled out of my driveway this morning in Litchfield Park, AZ and headed over to meet with a client in Goodyear, AZ, I drove by the Loop 303/I-10 Interchange. It truly is amazing to watch this interchange come up from the ground and starting to make its connections North, West and East. I find myself wanting to give kuddos to the folks at ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) as they move this project ahead at full speed.
When I got home later, I visited the ADOT website to learn the interchange construction progress is at its halfway completion point, with the full completion scheduled for Fall of next year, 2014. ADOT crews have been working night and day on the I-10 and Loop 303 Interchange, which will connect the West Valley to the I-17 Freeway, North of Phoenix, bypassing downtown Phoenix all together.
I have driven the old Loop 303 for years while taking clients out to preview Homes for Sale in Surprise, Waddell and Sun City Grand. This old two lane road has recorded its share of bad accidents over the years and I for one am looking forward to the full completion of the Interchange and the new 39 mile Loop 303. It will give us a six lane divided highway from I-10 North to Grand Avenue/US 60 then the highway will be four lanes connecting to the I-17 Freeway, just South of the Carefree Highway.
Living in Litchfield Park and driving North on the old Loop 303 to Lake Pleasant, where we and many boat owners frequent during the hot summer months, currently takes us about 45 minutes. With the new Loop 303, I would venture to say we will save at least 15 minutes driving from Litchfield Park to Lake Pleasant for a day of fun in the sun.
Many people believe the Loop 303 will be vital to cranking up the West Valley’s growth, enabling it to achieve it’s full economic development potential and I couldn’t agree more. Take a look at a previous article I wrote several months ago where I discuss some of the Valley’s projected New Home “Hot Spots” will be taking place. Not surprising to learn the Loop 303 corridor ranks high on the Hot Spots Map. When the Loop 303 and Interchange are completed, it will benefit most West Valley cities – Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Waddell, Surprise and Avondale. The Loop 303 carries a $134 million price tag and is an important component of the MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the blueprint for Valley-wide transportation improvements in Maricopa County through 2025.
To keep up to date on progress, sign up for email updates, view work schedules and even take a “Virtual Drive” of the new Loop 303 via a Google Earth Plugin, be sure to visit the Loop 303 webpage on the ADOT website.
