6-month paving project on U.S. 60 begins this weekend

A six-month project to improve the surface of U.S. 60/Superstition Freeway in both directions likely will slow Maricopa drivers headed to the East Valley.

Work on one of the busiest stretches of freeway in the Valley begins from Loop 101 to Loop 202 this weekend in Mesa, Arizona Department of Transportation said.

Eastbound U.S. 60 is scheduled for closure from Loop 101 to Dobson Road from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. All northbound and southbound Loop 101 ramps to eastbound and westbound U.S. 60 also will be closed.

The $34.3 million project is scheduled for completion this summer.

Work includes removal of the top layer of older, worn rubberized asphalt during a series of weekend freeway closures and overnight weekday lane restrictions along the freeway.

Crews will replace the old rubberized asphalt freeway topping with the concrete pavement treatment known as diamond grinding on the 14-mile stretch. That involves specialized equipment to remove a thin layer of the concrete pavement while adding small grooves in the surface, providing a smoother ride and helping to limit tire noise, according to ADOT.

However, homeowners near a segment of Loop 101 through Tempe, Mesa and Chandler complained of greater noise two years ago when that freeway was widened and rubberized asphalt was replaced with diamond grinding.

This diamond grinding area on U.S. 60 will be from Gilbert to Greenfield roads, where worn rubberized asphalt has been removed.

Diamond grinding also has been done on sections of other freeways, including I-10 and Loop 202.

ADOT accelerated this project after the Legislature provided funding in this fiscal year’s state budget.

More information, including how to sign up to receive traffic alerts and updates, is available via the U.S. 60 Pavement Project website at: https://azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/us-60-superstition-freeway-loop-101-loop-202-pavement.