After more than two weeks of closure due to a water main break, U.S. 60 is now open in both directions between Loop 101 and McClintock Drive.
The City of Tempe announced in a news release Sunday night that the westbound lanes reopened around 10 p.m. as crews completed work including concrete paving and lane striping over the weekend. The eastbound U.S. 60 off-ramp at McClintock Drive also reopened.
About 1,500 cubic yards of concrete were estimated to have been poured last week, according to a Wednesday update from Chris Kabala, principal civil engineer of the City of Tempe.
Eastbound lanes reopened on May 15 because there was less pavement to be replaced on that side of the road, Kabala said.
As of Sunday, there were still lane restrictions on McClintock Drive as crews worked on the water transmission line.
“It is possible to travel both north and southbound on McClintock Drive and to make left turns, but travelers could experience some delays,” the city said in the release.
Kabala said last week that after inspection they determined the standing water didn’t affect the McClintock Drive overpass.
U.S. 60 Workers Day
Mayor Corey Woods declared May 23 “U.S. 60 Workers Day” to recognize the efforts of the workers.
“Working around the clock, these dedicated men and women helped reopen the U.S. 60 as quickly and as safely as possible. They are shining examples of public service,” he said in the release.
In about a month the westbound right lane and shoulder and the westbound McClintock Drive off-ramp will be closed for repairs to the waterline, according to the city. No exact dates have been determined.
Costs for the reconstruction work were not available as of Monday afternoon and there wasn’t a confirmed cause for the break.
City will repurpose old roadway materials
In a news release, the city said about 34,000 square feet of the old roadway has been removed. Those materials will be used as fill material in the Arizona Department of Transportation Broadway Curve Improvement Project along the I-10, which includes widening the freeway and adding pedestrian bridges, officials said.
“Sustainability is very important to the city of Tempe,” Kabala said in a video update Tuesday. “We are glad that this material is being used over here and not being shipped somewhere to a landfill.”
TaiAnna Yee, Tempe public information officer, said the repurposing will save taxpayers money by recycling the material.