Efforts to repair US 60’s lane damage could begin today

Reconstruction efforts on the U.S. 60 in Tempe could begin as soon as today after a waterline break flooded highway lanes and damaged infrastructure, Tempe said Wednesday evening.

The work would focus on repairing damages to the eastbound HOV lane at McClintock Drive.

A news release stated that concrete could be poured as early as today. Repairs to westbound lanes were in the planning stages.

The city did not specify any reopening dates.

The McClintock Drive overpass that sits above the U.S. 60 was closed in both directions early Wednesday as a safety measure.

By late Wednesday, some lanes were reopened to traffic.

In a statement, Tempe said the Arizona Department of Transportation and city engineers were evaluating possible cracks in some bridge column supports that are between the lanes where there has been standing water since the break on Saturday.

Officials said the temporary closure was “out of an abundance of caution” and necessary as they assessed the effects of the break, according to the statement.

Upon inspection, officials reopened two northbound lanes and one southbound.

The pedestrian pass spanning the freeway east of the overpass was also open.

Though city officials initially reported that the break in the 24-inch steel cylinder water transmission line occurred beneath the freeway, city officials have since stated that the break occurred behind a retaining wall near the top of the McClintock Drive westbound offramp, a news release stated.

There is no estimated time for the overpass restrictions.

Crews making progress

Tempe reported Tuesday evening that the section that was flooded on U.S. 60 in Tempe between Interstate 10 and Loop 101 is drying out, which according to the city is a vital step in making progress to repair the freeway.

The waterline will be fully emptied to determine the cause of the break.

Crews are evaluating the stability of the soil to make sure there are no underground voids. When conditions are ready, the freeway’s surface will be rebuilt with concrete, according to Tempe.

There is still no estimated time for the freeway repairs to be completed; however, crews with the Tempe Water Utilities Department, FPS Civil contractors and ADOT continued to work “around the clock” to get the roadway open again, city spokesperson Nikki Ripley said.

Tempe has been planning a new program for systematic assessment of waterlines and fieldwork for it that is set to begin in the next few months, a Tempe news release stated. City staff will reexamine the plan given the recent pipe break.

Information for commuters

The following roads and highways are closed:

Eastbound U.S. 60 is closed between the I-10 interchange and McClintock Drive. The eastbound U.S. 60 onramp at McClintock Drive is open, but drivers should expect delays due to heavier traffic and possible work-related restrictions.

The southbound State Route 143 on-ramp at University Drive is also closed.

Westbound U.S. 60 is closed between Loop 101 and McClintock Drive. Drivers are able to use westbound U.S. 60 on-ramps at McClintock Drive, Rural Road and Mill Avenue since those ramps are located west of the area where repair work is taking place.

Any U.S. 60 traffic headed west approaching the closure will be redirected to north or south Loop 101.

Drivers who travel north on Loop 101 can use Loop 202 west toward Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or to the downtown Phoenix area.

Motorists who use southbound Loop 101 can head west on Loop 202 in the Chandler area to connect to I-10.

Drivers on I-10 who normally would head east on U.S. 60 should consider heading east on Loop 202 to Loop 101 north or Loop 202 east to Loop 101 south to reach U.S. 60 beyond the closure.

Encinas