Sedona AZ (April 20, 2016) – Arizona Eastbound Interstate 10 will be closed between Riggs Road and State Route 587 southeast of Phoenix from 7:00 p.m. tonight until approximately 10:00 a.m. on Thursday (April 21) to allow crews to complete roadway repairs on the eastbound Gila River Bridge.

Both eastbound lanes are open to traffic at the Gila River Bridge today, and the structure is safe to use, following an inspection by ADOT engineers.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is asking drivers to consider alternate travel routes tonight and Thursday morning while Eastbound I-10 is closed.

When Eastbound I-10 is closed at 7:00 p.m., traffic will detour along Riggs Road and onto State Route 587 to return to I-10 beyond the work zone. Travelers in western Arizona using Eastbound I-10 toward Phoenix can avoid the closure by using Southbound State Route 85 to Eastbound I-8, which connects with I-10 in the Casa Grande, Arizona, area.

Drivers are asked to avoid anticipated heavy traffic on the primary detour route by considering other alternate routes, including:

• Eastbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) to southbound State Route 79 (starting at Florence Junction) and southbound State Route 87 to reach I-10.

Repair work began Tuesday afternoon on a hole that developed in the right lane of the eastbound I-10 bridge spanning the Gila River, approximately six miles east of Riggs Road. Steel plates have been placed over the damaged area until permanent repairs can begin tonight.

Both of the I-10 bridges (east- and westbound) over the Gila River were originally built in 1964. The bridge decks were last resurfaced in 2009.

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