News Releases

Phoenix (October 8, 2025) – It is one of the busiest freeway corridors in the Valley. But now, there is an effort to ease congestion in a key corridor that runs through Tempe, Mesa, Maricopa County, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

The Loop 101 and Loop 202 Bottleneck Study is looking for ways to get drivers through the area smoothly and to their destinations without delays. 

Key Facts:

• The study will evaluate existing and future conditions in the area.
• The proposed recommendations will focus on both design and operational strategies.
• The study is estimated to take approximately two years.

Why It Is Important:

The study area includes portions of Loop 101 (Price Freeway) and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). Specifically, the area from Loop 101 and US 60 (Superstition Freeway) interchange in Tempe up to Loop 101 and McKellips Road in Scottsdale. Also included is the Loop 202 from Priest Drive in Tempe to Dobson Road in Mesa.

“Every day, more than 307,000 vehicles travel through Tempe along the Loop 101 from US 60 to the Loop 202,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “This is a vitally important transportation route for our community. The purpose of this study is to find ways to reduce traffic delays and make commutes safer for everyone. That’s something we can all get behind. Thanks to funding from voter-approved Prop 479, we will be able to explore the best solutions for freeway travel in this area.” 

“As we continue to attract jobs and industry to the region, the number of vehicles on the roadways will only increase,” noted Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman. “There is an average of four crashes every day on the freeways in the area around Loop 101 and Loop 202. We can change that with smart planning and feedback from our communities.”

There are several ways for the public to provide input: Complete a survey. Input is critical in helping to understand the issues within the study. Visit azmag.gov/L101-L202 to learn more about the study area and provide feedback.

1. Sign up to receive email updates on the study at gov/L101-L202.
2. Register and join the virtual meeting on October 15 at 6 p.m.

By The Numbers:

• Traffic volumes for three of the four study areas rank among the 10 busiest regional freeway corridors in 2024:
  • Loop 101: US 60 to Loop 202: 307,000 vehicles per day
  • Loop 101: McKellips Road to Loop 202: 262,000 vehicles per day
  • Loop 202: Priest Drive to Loop 101: 257,000 vehicles per day
  • Loop 202: Dobson Road to Loop 101: 169,000 vehicles per day

• Delay times: Due to braking and slow traffic, bottlenecks in this area can reduce the average speed to 27 mph, doubling travel time through the corridor.
• There were 8,164 crashes from 2019 to 2024 in the study area – an average of more than four per day.

View and download photos of the study area.