Driving around Maricopa County can be challenging on a typical day, but if you add in a construction project or a road closure, things can turn chaotic quickly. Unfortunately, that is the case this weekend as two sections of the Loop 202 will be closed for pavement maintenance.
The eastbound Loop 202 will be closed between Gilbert Road and McDowell Road in Mesa on Saturday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Similarly, the westbound Loop 202 will be closed between McDowell Road and Gilbert Road on Sunday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
If your weekend plans have you traveling in that area, authorities encourage you to consider alternate routes depending on where you are headed. An official detour will be in place to divert traffic onto McDowell road but there is a good chance that McDowell will become congested as a result, potentially increasing travel times and making conditions ripe for rear-end car accidents.
There are many issues that accompany the closure of highly-traveled roads and highways like the Loop 202 and many of them relate to safety. For example, there will be some motorists who are unaware of the closures prior to leaving home. These drivers will not plan for extra delays, will not consider alternative routes, and will not be prepared for the confusion that may accompany needed efforts to follow detours. Also, these drivers will not realize road closures are in place until they arrive at the area and they will be forced to make last-minute decisions. Motorists like these will make decisions quickly and likely without all the needed information, potentially sacrificing safety and risking harm to those in the area.
Others will be aware of the closures but will not plan ahead, instead assuming that the closures will be less impactful than the media and local authorities have claimed. These drivers will be forced to follow the sponsored detours which may or may not be an efficient means of transit. During periods of heavy traffic, marked detours may become bogged down and may lead to serious congestion. Further, drivers may not be familiar with the path that a detour takes, increasing their confusion and potentially leading to car accidents.
When at all possible, it is best to be a driver that is both informed and prepared for potential closures. You can do this by checking local news and traffic reports prior to leaving home and familiarizing yourself with side streets nearby. If a marked detour will work for your travel plans, take that detour but proceed with extra caution and plan on congestion. If a marked detour will not be convenient for your final destination, consider picking your own route and avoiding any potential issues as a result.
No matter what you do or how you choose to drive this weekend, be sure to make safety a priority. In the unfortunate event that you find yourself the victim of a Phoenix car accident, know that our legal team will be standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191. We offer a case consultation without cost or obligation to all injury victims who call us and we keep everything discussed during the consultation confidential.
If you have questions or simply want to learn about your legal options, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let our team get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Victim’s Rights when an At-Fault Driver has No Insurance, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published February 11, 2016.
Resource:
2 Phoenix-area road projects to avoid this weekend, by Weldon B. Johnson, The Republic/azcentral.com, published February 12, 2016.