303 Construction
Loop 303 Construction: Short- Term Headaches, Long-Term Changes for Goodyear For drivers navigating the southwest Valley, the next few years may require an extra dose of patience. Construction is underway on a major extension of Loop 303 south of Interstate 10, a project that promises better regional connections but will bring closures, restrictions and changing traffic patterns to Goodyear along the way. The Arizona Department of Transportation began work in June on the approximately $613 million project, which will extend Loop 303 about four miles from Van Buren Street to Maricopa County 85. Construction is expected to take approximately four years. Much of the new freeway will follow the existing Cotton Lane corridor. Plans call for an elevated freeway over cross streets and railroad tracks, along with new or expanded interchanges at Van Buren Street, Yuma Road and Lower Buckeye Road/Elwood Street. For Goodyear residents, however, getting there could be the challenging part. ADOT says periodic lane restrictions and closures will be necessary on Loop 303, Cotton Lane, freeway ramps and cross streets. Most restrictions are expected during nights and weekends, although some cross- street closures could last up to 60 days. A new northbound frontage road is also under construction. Once completed, Cotton Lane traffic will shift onto the frontage road, allowing major freeway construction to proceed.
The extension will eventually connect with the planned State Route 30, creating another major east-west transportation corridor and providing an alternative to Interstate 10. That matters in a growing West Valley where population, housing and industrial development continue adding vehicles to local roads. But major transportation improvements rarely arrive without disruption. For residents living near Cotton Lane — and commuters who rely on it — construction updates will become increasingly important when planning daily trips. The Loop 303 extension is ultimately designed to make Goodyear easier to navigate. Until then, drivers may discover that the West Valley’s transportation future comes with detours.
The long-term payoff could be significant.
6 Estrella Publishing - The Hamlet magazine
October 2026
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