Arizona State Route 303

"Loop 303" and "Arizona Loop 303" redirect here. For other uses, see List of highways numbered 303.

Arizona State Route 303 (SR 303) or Loop 303, also known as the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway (formerly the Estrella Freeway), is a freeway that serves the west part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The freeway, originally a two-lane rural highway, was maintained by Maricopa County until 2004 when the Arizona Department of Transportation again took control of upgrading the interim road to a freeway.^[2]

State Route 303
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
Loop 303 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ADOT
Length	35.25 mi[1] (56.73 km)
Existed	1991–present
Major junctions
From	MC 85 in Goodyear (Planned)
Major intersections	I-10 in Goodyear Northern Parkway in Glendale US 60 in Surprise
To	I-17 in Phoenix
Location
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Highway system
Arizona State Highway System Interstate US State Proposed Former
← SR 289 → SR 347

Loop 303/I-10 interchange

Route description

Loop 303 currently begins at Van Buren Street, one mile south of I-10 in Goodyear. It becomes a six-lane freeway with a stack interchange at I-10.^[3] South of Van Buren Street it continues as Cotton Lane but without a route number. The freeway heads north under McDowell and Thomas Roads, then over an interchange with Indian School Road. It then proceeds through a farmland terrain and passes by the Wildlife World Zoo near the Northern Parkway trumpet interchange.^[4] After passing Northern Parkway, the freeway continues for a few miles before entering a residential community at Greenway Road and turning northeast. It passes above Grand Avenue (US 60) and a BNSF railroad line at a parclo interchange.^[5] The freeway turns eastward north of Sun City West before turning north again at the Happy Valley Parkway interchange. It turns east again south of Lake Pleasant at the Agua Fria River. Following the Lake Pleasant Parkway interchange, the freeway condenses down to four lanes and passes through planned arterial interchanges.^[6] The freeway comes to an end at a temporary at-grade interchange (eventually to be a freeway-to-freeway interchange) with I-17 near Skunk Creek. East of this interchange, Loop 303 becomes Sonoran Desert Drive. The southern portion between US 60 to I-10 is used to bypass Grand Avenue, and the whole route is used to bypass the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

History

1985–1995

Old colored Arizona Loop 303 shield that has been phased out.

Loop 303 was originally a part of the 1985 Maricopa County Regional Transportation Plan that was funded by a sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters.^[7] The freeway, designed to serve the Northwest Valley, was originally designated SR 517 in 1985; the Loop 303 designation was first assigned on December 18, 1987.^[8] The interim two-lane highway was completed between US 60 and I-10 in 1991, marking the first road along the Loop 303 corridor. The freeway was scheduled to be completed sometime by 2005. However, funding shortfalls and increasing construction costs forced cutbacks in the plan, and in 1995 the freeway was dropped from the regional plans.^[2]

1995–2004

Maricopa County took charge of SR 303 when it was dropped from the regional freeway plans in 1995, maintaining the interim two-lane highway along the original corridor while keeping the state route designation. The county then made significant improvements to the highway, extending it from US 60 to Happy Valley Parkway in 2004 as a four-lane divided parkway.^[2] SR 303 was still largely a two-lane rural road and the only sections as a four-lane divided parkway was the extension north of US 60, and the southern terminus just north of I-10 between Indian School and McDowell Roads. The segment between US 60 and Bell Road in Surprise was partially upgraded to freeway standards in 2004 with overpasses at Clearview Boulevard and Mountain View Boulevard. An interim interchange and bridge above US 60 were also built at the same time.^[9] In May 2004, SR 303 was renamed the "Bob Stump Memorial Parkway" in honor of former Arizona congressman Bob Stump.^[10]

2004–2011

With the extension of the sales tax approved in 2004,^[7] SR 303 was taken back over by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and added back to the regional transportation plan.^[2] As Maricopa County had completed much of the required study and preparation work, construction on the freeway proceeded with a planned completion date of the I-10 to I-17 segment by 2015.^[11] According to an agreement between the state legislature and ADOT, Statewide Transportation Acceleration Needs (STAN) funds were used to build a partial interchange at Bell Road in summer 2010, several years before previously intended. Funds from this were also used to upgrade the crossings at Waddell and Cactus Roads to make way for the new freeway.^[12]

In 2009, construction began on the 14-mile segment between Happy Valley Parkway and I-17. In May 2011, this segment opened as a four-lane freeway with interchanges at Happy Valley Parkway, Lone Mountain Parkway (not opened until 2012), and Lake Pleasant Parkway. Motorists still have to pass through signaled ramp junctions at I-17 until a full freeway-to-freeway interchange is built.^[11]

2011–present

Beginning in mid-2011, ADOT began upgrading Loop 303 between US 60 and I-10 from a two-lane highway to a six-lane freeway with auxiliary lanes and interchanges. In August 2011, construction began on the six-mile segment between Mountain View Boulevard and Peoria Avenue. This segment was completed in fall 2013 with interchanges at Bell, Greenway, Waddell, and Cactus Roads as well as Peoria Avenue.^[13][14]

In November 2011, construction began on the north half of the I-10 and Loop 303 stack interchange. Construction was completed in August 2014 with the opening of all of the north half ramps. The McDowell Road bridge was also completed during this time.^[15]

In May 2012, construction began on the seven-mile segment between Peoria Avenue and Thomas Road. This segment was fully completed in August 2014 with a trumpet interchange at Northern Parkway (opened in late 2013) along with other interchanges at every arterial road except Olive Avenue.^[16][17]

In August 2014, construction began on the seven-mile segment between US 60 and Happy Valley Parkway to upgrade it to freeway standards. The first part was to upgrade the roadway to three lanes in each direction; it was complete in summer 2015. The second part was to construct a parclo interchange at the US 60. This part began in December 2014 and was complete in spring 2016. The final part was to construct the El Mirage Road interchange. This began in February 2015 and was complete in summer 2016. This marked the first time the entire Loop 303 between I-10 and I-17 was fully upgraded to freeway standards.^[5]

In February 2016, construction began on the south half of the I-10 and Loop 303 stack interchange. Construction was complete in October 2017 with the opening of all of the south half ramps along with the Van Buran Street interchange.^[3]

In December 2020, construction began to widen the six-mile segment between Happy Valley Parkway and Lake Pleasant Parkway from two to three lanes in each direction. It was completed with the opening of the Jomax Parkway exit in Peoria in January 2022.^[18]

Interchange at 43rd Avenue

In October 2022, construction began to build the interchanges at 51st Avenue and 43rd Avenue. Construction was completed with the opening of these interchanges in August 2023.^[6]

Future

A new segment of Loop 303 is planned to begin construction in 2025. It is the three-mile segment south of Van Buren Street to MC-85. The two-mile stretch of this segment between Van Buren Street and Elwood Street will be built along the Cotton Lane alignment. It will consist of building three lanes in each direction along with interchanges at Yuma Road and Elwood Street. There will be frontage roads along this entire segment to provide access to local communities. Bridges will be built over Lilac Street/Canyon Trails Boulevard and Lower Buckeye Road, and access will be via the frontage roads. Following Elwood Street, Loop 303 will head southwest for the one-mile stretch of this segment between Elwood Street and MC-85. It will consist of building two lanes in each direction as well as an at-grade intersection with MC-85.^[19]

A full freeway-to-freeway interchange will be built at the Loop 303 and I-17. The goal is for construction to begin sometime in 2028. Loop 303 has been built to accommodate four-general purpose lanes, one HOV lane, and one auxiliary lane in order to expand in the future.^[20]

Loop 303 is planned to continue south of MC-85 and connect to the future SR 30 in Goodyear. Construction of that segment will be around the same time as that portion of SR 30, and the timeline is currently unknown.^[21]

Long-term plans include the Loop 303 to continue south of SR 30 to the future I-11 Hassayampa Freeway. Most of this extension would be in Goodyear and would be built around the same time as that portion of I-11.^[22]

Exit list

Exit numbering is arbitrary. The entire route is in Maricopa County.

Location	mi [1]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Goodyear	99	159	99	MC 85 (Historic US 80)	Planned at-grade intersection; construction planned to begin in 2025; Loop 303 may go south of MC-85 in the future[19]
	100	160	100	Elwood Street / Cotton Lane	Planned interchange; to be southbound exit and northbound entrance; construction planned to begin in 2025[19]
	102	164	102	Yuma Road / Lower Buckeye Road	Planned interchange; no northbound signage for Lower Buckeye Road; construction planned to begin in 2025[19]
	103	166	103	Van Buren Street / McDowell Road	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; temporary counterclockwise terminus
	104	167	104	I-10 – Phoenix, Los Angeles	Stack interchange; signed as exits 104A (east) and 104B (west); exit 124 on I-10
	105	169	105	Thomas Road / McDowell Road	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	106	171	106	Indian School Road
Goodyear–Glendale line	107	172	107	Camelback Road
Glendale	108	174	108	Bethany Home Road
	109	175	109	Glendale Avenue
	110	180	110A	Northern Avenue	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			110B	Northern Parkway east	Trumpet interchange; west end of Northern Parkway
	111	179	111	Olive Avenue	Planned interchange; to be southbound exit and northbound entrance[23]
Glendale–Surprise line	112	180	112	Peoria Avenue
Surprise	113	182	113	Cactus Road
	114	183	114	Waddell Road
	115	185	115	Greenway Road
	116	187	116	Bell Road
	119	192	119	US 60 (Grand Avenue)	Parclo interchange
Sun City West	122	196	122	Litchfield Road	Proposed interchange[24]
	123	198	123	El Mirage Road
​	125	201	125	Happy Valley Parkway / Vistancia Boulevard	Happy Valley Parkway was routing of Temporary Loop 303 before parkway's maintenance was turned over to Maricopa County
Peoria	126	203	126	Jomax Parkway
	127	204	127	Lone Mountain Parkway
	131	211	131	Lake Pleasant Parkway
Phoenix	133	214	133	67th Avenue	Planned interchange[6]
	136	219	136	51st Avenue
	137	220	137	43rd Avenue
	138	222	138	I-17 / Sonoran Desert Drive – Flagstaff, Phoenix	Clockwise terminus; at-grade intersection with frontage roads; I-17 exit 221; continues east as Sonoran Desert Drive
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Unopened

See also

• U.S. roads portal
• Arizona portal
• Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix
• Loop 101
• Loop 202

References

1. 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. "Loop 303". AAroads. June 6, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
3. "ADOT opens all new ramp connections at I-10/Loop 303 interchange in Goodyear". Arizona Department of Transportation. October 10, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
4. "Northern Parkway". AAroads. June 6, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
5. "New Loop 303 lanes open in northwest Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. June 24, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
6. "Loop 303: Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17 Improvements". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
7. "About MAG: Proposition 300 and 400". Maricopa Association of Governments. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
8. Breyer, Joe. "Right-of-Way Resolutions - Route Number: 517". Arizona Highway Data. Works Consulting LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
9. "West Valley's explosive growth spawns Loop 303 construction". Biz Journals. October 5, 2003. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
10. "Maricopa County Board of Supervisors minute book" (PDF). May 13, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
11. "The future of Loop 303". Arizona Department of Transportation. May 5, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
12. "FY 2009 and FY 2010 Appropriations Chairmen Budget Options" (PDF). Arizona Legislature. p. 6. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
13. "'Turnin' dirt' on the Loop 303 in Surprise". Arizona Department of Transportation. August 11, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
14. "Work continues on Loop 303". Arizona Department of Transportation. December 16, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
15. "All ramps are open at the Loop 303/I-10 traffic interchange". Arizona Department of Transportation. September 4, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
16. "Two new Loop 303 expansion projects to start soon in the West Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. May 3, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
17. "ADOT opens two ramps connecting Loop 303, Interstate 10". Arizona Department of Transportation. August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
18. "Loop 303 widening project completed in northwest Valley". Arizona Department of Transportation. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
19. "Loop 303: MC 85 to Van Buren Street Improvements". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
20. "Initial Design Concept Report SR 303L Lake Pleasant Parkway to I-17" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. October 2021. pp. 77–78. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
21. "Loop 303 from Interstate 10 to Proposed State Route 30". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
22. "Loop 303: State Route 30 to Hassayampa Freeway Study". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
23. "FY 2022 FREEWAY LIFE CYCLE PROGRAM (FLCP)" (PDF). Maricopa Association of Governments. December 1, 2021. p. 39. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
24. "SR 303L, LITCHFIELD ROAD TRAFFIC INTERCHANGE FINAL PROJECT ASSESSMENT" (PDF). Maricopa Association of Governments. April 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2022.

External links

• "AZ 303". arizonaroads.com.

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