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Arizona State Route 101

Route map:
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"Loop 101" and "Arizona Loop 101" redirect here. For other uses, see List of highways numbered 101 (disambiguation).
State Route 101 marker
State Route 101
Map
Loop 101 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ADOT
Length60.99 mi[1] (98.15 km)
Existed1988–present
HistoryFully completed in 2002[2]
Major junctions
From I-10 in Tolleson
Major intersections
To Loop 202 in Chandler
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountiesMaricopa
Highway system
  • Arizona State Highway System
← SR 99→ SR 143
Interchange of 101 (Pima Freeway) with Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in Mesa, with 101 through Scottsdale in the distance

Arizona State Route 101 (SR 101) or Loop 101 is a semi-beltway looping around the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in central Arizona, United States. It connects several suburbs of Phoenix, including Tolleson, Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler. Construction began in 1986 and was completed in 2002.[2]

Loop 101 has three officially designated sections along its route:

  • Agua Fria Freeway in the west valley from I-10 to I-17
  • Pima Freeway in the east valley from I-17 to Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway)
  • Price Freeway in the east valley from Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to Loop 202 (Santan Freeway)

Route description

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Agua Fria Freeway

Loop 101 begins as the Agua Fria Freeway at a three-level interchange with I-10 in Tolleson west of Phoenix. From that point, the route heads north entering Phoenix then Glendale, passing State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena. Continuing northward through Peoria, it encounters the Grand Avenue portion of US 60 and passes the Peoria Sports Complex before entering northwestern Glendale and curving east just past the Arrowhead Towne Center mall. The route then heads east along the Beardsley Road alignment. The freeway enters northern Phoenix, and at milepost 23, Loop 101 intersects I-17 15 miles (24 km) north of Downtown Phoenix.

Pima Freeway

Continuing east as the Pima Freeway, Loop 101 travels just south of Deer Valley Airport before intersecting the northern terminus of SR 51 at milepost 29. East of this junction, Loop 101 curves south through Scottsdale on the Pima Road alignment. The freeway then curves east and passes through the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, just south of Via Linda providing access to Downtown Scottsdale, Scottsdale Pavilions, Scottsdale Community College, two casinos, and Scottsdale Fashion Square. Continuing south, Loop 101 encounters an interchange with the Red Mountain Freeway portion of Loop 202 in Tempe at milepost 51. This interchange is partially built over the Salt River.

Price Freeway

Loop 101 then becomes the Price Freeway and continues south, passing Arizona State University to the east. The route then intersects the Superstition Freeway portion of US 60 at milepost 55 before entering Chandler.

Loop 101 and US 60 interchange in Tempe

Loop 101 provides access to Chandler Fashion Center just prior to concluding at milepost 61 at an interchange with the Santan Freeway portion of Loop 202 (signs for AZ-101 Loop S).

History

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1985–2007: Original Construction

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Old colored Arizona Loop 101 shield that has been phased out.

Loop 101 was a part of the 1985 Maricopa County Regional Transportation Plan that was funded by a sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters that year.[3] The freeway was originally assigned two different route numbers along its path: The Agua Fria Freeway portion was initially designated as SR 417,[4] and the Pima/Price Freeway portion was initially designated as SR 117.[5] The Loop 101 designation was first assigned on December 18, 1987, at which time the South Mountain Freeway and the portion of the San Tan Freeway between I-10 and Price Road were also designated to be part of Loop 101.[6] On July 19, 1991, the proposed South Mountain Freeway was renumbered as part of Loop 202.[7] The San Tan Freeway portion of Loop 101 has never officially been renumbered, though this freeway section has been signed as Loop 202 since its opening.

In 1990, after several years of negotiation with the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, the state of Arizona paid the tribe $247 million for right of way for the nine-mile eastern leg of Loop 101 from Via Linda to the north bank of the Salt River. The resulting alignment kept all four corners of each interchange on tribal land, allowing the community to control and benefit from development. The tribe formed a development arm, Salt River DevCo, to manage these and other community developable properties.[8]

Loop 101 was built in stages from 1986 to 2002. The first segment of Loop 101 opened in November 1988, consisting of the two-mile stretch from Peoria Avenue to Northern Avenue in Peoria.[2] Throughout the next 14 years, the other 59 miles of the route would be built including the interchanges with I-10, I-17, both Loop 202 Freeways, and the US 60. The final segment that was built was the two-mile stretch from Scottsdale Road to Pima Road in Scottsdale that opened in April 2002, marking the full completion of the entire 61-mile route.[2] Loop 101 was built with three general-purpose lanes in each direction along with one auxiliary lane with the exception of the three-mile stretch from Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to US 60 where there were four general-purpose lanes in each direction.

In January 2006, Scottsdale installed speed enforcement cameras along its 7.8 mile stretch of Loop 101 to lower speeds and reduce collisions. There were six cameras placed in total, three in each direction. The system was calibrated to ticket anyone traveling 76 mph (122 km/h) or greater, as 65 mph (105 km/h) was the predetermined speed limit. The trial phase lasted from January to October 2006 before resuming full time in February 2007.[9] There had been much criticism of the program since its inception, and it ended in 2010.[10]

2007–present: Recent Improvements

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Between 2007 and 2011, HOV lanes were constructed along the entire route in different phases. It included construction of direct HOV ramps between Loop 101 east and SR 51 south in Northern Phoenix and Loop 101 north and Loop 202 east (Santan Freeway) in Chandler.[11]

The Maryland Avenue HOV interchange in Glendale began construction in October 2013 and was completed in March 2014.[12]

In August 2014, construction began to add a fourth general-purpose lane in each direction for the 11-mile segment from Shea Boulevard to Loop 202 in Scottsdale. Construction was completed in October 2016.[13]

The 64th Street interchange in northeast Phoenix opened in May 2015 after being built in 2008.[14]

Bethany Home Road was renamed Cardinals Way to honor the Arizona Cardinals in February 2019.[15]

In February 2019, construction began to add a fourth general-purpose lane in each direction for the 13-mile segment from I-17 to Pima Road in Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix. Construction was completed in January 2022.[16]

In May 2019, construction began to add a fourth general-purpose lane in each direction for the 6.4-mile segment from Baseline Road to Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) in the East Valley. Construction was completed in August 2020.[17]

Construction began in January 2024 to add a fourth general-purpose lane in each direction for the 4.5-mile segment from Shea Boulevard to Princess Drive/Pima Road. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2026.[18]

Construction began in September 2024 to add a fourth general-purpose lane in each direction for the six-mile segment from 75th Avenue to I-17 in the northwest valley. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027.[19]

Future

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Direct HOV lane connections are planned to be constructed at the I-10 interchange between Loop 101 and I-10 east. Construction is planned to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.[20]

The Northern Avenue interchange in Peoria is planned to be upgraded to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI). It will be the first DDI on Loop 101, and construction is expected to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.[20]

Exit list

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The entire route is in Maricopa County.

Locationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Tolleson0.000.001A-B I-10 (Papago Freeway) – Phoenix, Los AngelesCounterclockwise terminus; signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east); exit 133B on I-10
1C
 I-10 east		Planned HOV interchange with construction set to begin in 2025[20]
Phoenix0.721.162McDowell RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
1.742.803Thomas Road
2.754.434Indian School Road
3.796.105Camelback Road
Glendale4.787.696Cardinals WayFormerly Bethany Home Road
5.298.517AMaryland AvenueHOV interchange
5.789.307BGlendale Avenue
Glendale–Peoria line6.8811.078Northern AvenueFuture Northern Parkway
Peoria8.0913.029Olive Avenue
9.1014.6510Peoria Avenue
10.0116.1111 US 60 (Grand Avenue)Northbound exit and southbound entrance; former US 89/SR 93
10.5416.96
 91st Avenue to US 60 (Grand Avenue)		Southbound exit and northbound entrance; referred to internally as exit 11A[1]
11.4718.4612Thunderbird Road
12.3019.79Bridge over Skunk Creek
13.5321.7714Bell Road
Glendale14.5923.4815Union Hills DriveNo southbound exit; southbound access is via exit 16
Cardinal direction change: Western leg (north–south) / Northern leg (west–east)[a]
15.4924.9316Beardsley Road west / Union Hills DriveNo eastbound exit
16.0225.781775th Avenue
17.0227.391867th Avenue
17.9628.901959th Avenue
Glendale–Phoenix line19.8631.962051st Avenue
Phoenix20.9733.752235th AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
22.67–
25.07		36.48–
40.35		2327th AvenueSigned as exit 23A westbound
I-17 (Black Canyon Freeway) – Flagstaff, PhoenixSigned as exits 23B (north) and 23C (south) westbound; exit 214C on I-17; westbound exit to NB I-17 includes direct exit ramp onto Deer Valley Road
Agua Fria Freeway transitions to Pima Freeway
22.9836.982419th AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
23.9638.56257th Avenue
24.9640.17267th Street
26.9943.4428Cave Creek Road
28.29–
29.49		45.53–
47.46		29A
 SR 51 south		Signed as exit 29 eastbound; northern terminus of SR 51; exit 15A on SR 51
29B
 SR 51 south		HOV access only; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
30.0948.4331Tatum Boulevard
31.1850.183256th Street
32.3652.083364th Street
Phoenix–Scottsdale line33.3053.5934Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale34.3355.2535Hayden Road
35.3656.9136Princess Drive / Pima Road
Cardinal direction change: Northern leg (west–east) / Eastern leg (north–south)[b]
36.5758.8538Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard / Bell RoadNo southbound signage for Bell Road
37.3660.1339Raintree Drive / Thunderbird RoadNo northbound signage for Thunderbird Road
38.8662.5440Cactus Road
39.8464.1241Shea Boulevard
Salt River
Pima–Maricopa
Indian Community		41.1366.194290th Street / Pima Road
42.1667.8543Via de Ventura
43.2269.5644Talking Stick Way / Indian Bend Road
44.2871.2645McDonald Drive
45.2872.8746Chaparral Road
46.2874.4847Indian School Road
47.3076.1248Thomas Road
48.3177.7549McDowell Road
49.3279.3750McKellips Road
Mesa50.03–
50.64		80.52–
81.50		Bridge over the Salt River
51 Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway)Serves Sky Harbor Airport; signed as exits 51A (west/airport) and 51B (east) northbound; exit 9 on Loop 202
Pima Freeway transitions to Price Freeway
Tempe51.3482.6252Rio Salado Parkway / University Drive
52.3484.2353Broadway Road
53.3485.8454Southern Avenue / Baseline RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
53.54–
55.14		86.16–
88.74		55A-B US 60 (Superstition Freeway) – Globe, PhoenixNorthbound signed as exits 55A (west) and 55B (east), southbound signed as exits 55A (east) and 55B (west); exits 176A-B on US 60
55CBaseline Road / Southern AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
55.3689.0956Guadalupe Road
56.3790.7257Elliot Road
Chandler57.3692.3158Warner Road
58.3793.9459Ray Road
59.3795.5560Chandler BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
59.67–
60.99		96.03–
98.15		61APrice RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
61D
 Loop 202 east		HOV access only; exit 50C on Loop 202
61B-C Loop 202 (Santan Freeway)Clockwise terminus; signed as exits 61B (west) and 61C (east); exit 50A on Loop 202
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  1. ^ As indicated by reassurance shields on the mainline, in addition to guide signs on Union Hills Drive and 75th Avenue[21]
  2. ^ As indicated by overhead signs on Princess Drive/Pima Road[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Roadway Inventory Management Section, Multimodal Planning Division (December 31, 2013). "2013 State Highway System Log" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Lopez, Julian (August 16, 2024). "The day Loop 101 opened in Phoenix's West Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "About MAG: Proposition 300 and 400". Maricopa Association of Governments. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Breyer, Joe. "Right-of-Way Resolutions - Route Number: 417". Arizona Highway Data. Works Consulting LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  5. ^ Breyer, Joe. "Right-of-Way Resolutions - Route Number: 117". Arizona Highway Data. Works Consulting LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  6. ^ Breyer, Joe. "Right-of-Way Resolutions - Route Number: 101L". Arizona Highway Data. Works Consulting LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  7. ^ Breyer, Joe. "Arizona DOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1991-07-A-056". Arizona Highway Data. Works Consulting LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  8. ^ Lynch, Ken (October 3, 2017). "Loop 101 101: How One Man Stalled The Freeway for 8 Years and Changed a Tribe Forever". Arizona Report. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Photo Enforcement 101". City of Scottsdale. March 8, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Sakal, Mike (July 26, 2010). "As state ends photo speed enforcement, local cameras roll on". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "HOV lanes open up in Chandler and the West Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. October 13, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "New Loop 101 HOV-lane ramps now open at Maryland Ave. in Glendale". Arizona Department of Transportation. April 3, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Major work complete on Loop 101 widening project in East Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. October 26, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "Phoenix and ADOT open Loop 101 interchange at 64th Street". Arizona Department of Transportation. May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ^ Fifield, Jen (February 25, 2019). "The Arizona Cardinals just got a road named after them. Here's where street signs are changing". AZ Central. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Shapiro, Danny (January 12, 2022). "Loop 101 widening project in North Valley complete after 3 years". Ktar News. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Yes, it was 2020 but progress still made along Phoenix-area freeways". Arizona Department of Transportation. December 31, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Loop 101 (Pima Freeway), Princess Drive to Shea Boulevard Improvements". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway), 75th Avenue to I-17 Improvements". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "FY 2025 FLCP FREEWAY LIFE CYCLE PROGRAM (FLCP)" (PDF). Maricopa Association of Governments. May 22, 2024. pp. 20–21. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Arizona State Route 101" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
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