Best routes out of Maricopa High School after graduation.

Arizona Department of Transportation will accommodate graduation ceremonies planned for next week by delaying nightly night work on John Wayne Parkway and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

The road work had been planned Monday-Thursday, causing lane closures 8 p.m.-5 a.m. However, the eighth grade Unification/Graduation Ceremony for Desert Wind and Maricopa Wells middle schools is planned for Tuesday night, and the Maricopa High School Graduation is Thursday. Both are set at Ram Stadium south of the railroad tracks, and the resulting heavy traffic would not have been able to travel north on State Route 347 after the events.

Maricopa Police Detective Daniel Rauch sent out a press release Friday stating MPD had been working with ADOT on the potential problems, and ADOT agreed to begin the road closures after 9 p.m. instead.

“This means northbound traffic on SR 347 will still be available,” he stated.

MPD officers and police volunteers will be at intersections to help guide the flow of traffic. Congestion should still be expected after both events