This major Tempe intersection will be closed for 5 days. Here's what to know

Rey Covarrubias Jr., Arizona Republic
·4 min read

The Mill Avenue and University Drive intersection will close for five days in early August to accommodate for construction, Tempe city officials announced.

From August 3 at midnight until August 7 at 4 a.m., the city of Tempe would close all four directions of travel at the intersection which connects downtown Tempe with the Arizona State University campus.

City crews will work around the clock to ensure the intersection closure will be brief, officials said. A city-issued release noted that crews try to limit noise during the closure, which will mostly on weekdays.

Why is the intersection of University Drive and Mill Avenue closing?

The closure was for the Downtown Tempe Refresh Project, a renovation that adds or improves infrastructure like new trees, road paving and improved pedestrian crossings.

The upgrades will be the first renovation of its kind on Mill Avenue in nearly 40 years, the news release read.

"We appreciate your patience and understanding as we install this important improvement," read the news release.

How will drivers be impacted by the closure?

Tempe officials provided the following detours routes to bypass the closed intersection.

  • Westbound traffic on University Drive will be detoured at Rural Road.

  • Eastbound traffic on University Drive will be detoured at Priest Drive.

  • Northbound traffic on Mill Avenue will be detoured at Apache Boulevard/13th Street.

  • Southbound traffic on Mill Avenue will be detoured at Rio Salado Parkway.

  • Drivers headed to Tempe City Hall should take Priest or Rural roads to Fifth Street. Drivers on Rural Road can turn on University Drive to access Veterans Way, and then Fifth Street.

How will bus routes be impacted by the closure?

Tempe provided the following information for public transit detours that ended on the night of Aug 6, according to the news release.

  • 30 Eastbound: Regular route to University Drive/Ash Avenue; north on Ash Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to College Avenue; south on College Avenue to University Drive; east on University Drive to resume regular route.

  • 30 Westbound: Regular route to University Drive/College Avenue; north on College Avenue to Fifth Street; west on Fifth Street to Ash Avenue; south on Ash Avenue to University Drive; west on University Drive to resume regular route.

  • 66 Northbound: Regular route to Mill Avenue/13th Street; east on 13th Street (becomes Apache Boulevard) to McAllister Avenue; north on McAllister Avenue (becomes Veterans Way) to Tempe Transportation Center.

  • 66 Southbound: From Tempe Transportation Center – East on Fifth Street (becomes Veterans Way) to University Drive; south on McAllister Avenue to Apache Boulevard; west on Apache Boulevard (becomes 13th Street) to Mill Avenue; south on Mill Avenue to resume regular route.

  • Jupiter Northbound: Regular route to College Avenue/Apache Boulevard; east on Apache Boulevard to McAllister Avenue; north on McAllister Avenue (becomes Veterans Way) to Tempe Transportation Center.

  • Jupiter Southbound: From Tempe Transportation Center – East on Fifth Street (becomes Veterans Way) to University Drive; south on McAllister Avenue to Apache Boulevard; west on Apache Boulevard to College Avenue; south on College Avenue to resume regular route.

  • Mercury Eastbound: From Tempe Transportation Center – East on Fifth Street to College Avenue; south on College Avenue to University Drive; east on University Drive to resume regular route.

  • Venus Forward: From Tempe Transportation Center – west on Fifth Street to Farmer Avenue; south on Farmer Avenue to 10th Street; resume regular route.

  • Venus Back: Regular route to Farmer Avenue/10th Street; north on Farmer Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to the Tempe Transportation Center.

  • The streetcar will operate a limited service between Dorsey Lane/Apache Boulevard and Mill Avenue/Ninth Street during this time.

What businesses will be impacted by the closure?

All businesses in the area would be open and accessible throughout the closure. Here's what city officials said for local business near the closure.

  • Chase Bank: Entrance/exit will be maintained off Ninth Street. Traffic exiting the Chase Bank parking lot can go either way on Ninth Street or turn southbound onto Mill Avenue.

  • Omni Resort: Valet and access off Mill Avenue will be closed. Access will be maintained off of Ninth Street and Mirabella Drive. Traffic exiting the Omni Resort can be routed onto eastbound University Drive or onto Ninth Street.

  • Jack-in-the-Box: Entrance/exit will be maintained from Mill Avenue and the alley connection from University Drive.

  • T-Mobile: Entrance/exit will be maintained from Mill Avenue and the alley connection from University Drive.

  • Pita Jungle: Entrance/exit will be maintained from Mill Avenue and the alley connection from University Drive.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Downtown Tempe intersection closed 5 days for Mill Avenue construction