Starting this week, nearly 10,000 daily commuters in the West Valley will have to avoid Southern at 59th Avenue as construction continues for the South Mountain Freeway portion of Loop 202.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, Southern Avenue will be closed through March to build a segment of the 22-mile-long roadway.

Dustin Krugel with ADOT says he expects heavy delays on alternative routes like Broadway and Baseline during the closure. But more traffic now will mean less traffic in the future.

“Completing the Southern Avenue traffic interchange and the South Mountain Freeway project, in the long run, is really going to help alleviate the growing traffic gridlock we are seeing on local roadways and divert more traffic more efficiently to the eight-lane freeway,” Krugel said.

Krugel says drivers should plan ahead for a longer commute before hitting the roadways.

Local traffic access to nearby schools and businesses will be maintained throughout the closure, according to ADOT.