Arizona State Route 143

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State Route 143, also known as SR-143 and the Hohokam Expressway, is an access-controlled expressway in Maricopa County, Arizona that runs from a junction with Interstate 10 at South 48th Street in Phoenix to a junction with State Route 202 at East McDowell Road. It is a north-south route that lies east of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Along with State Route 153, SR-143 serves East Valley residents with access to Sky Harbor.

1 Route Description
2 Exit Guide
3 See also
4 External links
5 See also

[edit] Route Description

At the southern terminus of the expressway, SR-143 begins at the intersection of South 48th Street and Broadway, climbing over Interstate 10. Traffic heading southbound at this point is warned of a traffic signal that hides over the optical horizon of the overpass to most traffic. To combat safety issues raised by lack of visibility of the main traffic signals, a second traffic signal was installed at a higher elevation so that it is visible to traffic on the northern approach of the overpass. Included in this second signal is a high-intensity strobe embedded in the red signal light. In addition to the strobing signal light, rumble strips have been cut into the bridge deck at several intervals, further alerting traffic that the expressway is ending. Part of the bridge deck is shared with an exit-only lane leading to Interstate 10 Eastbound to Tucson, which includes including a loop ramp that has a speed limit of 20mph from southbound SR 143 to eastbound I-10/US 60. Traffic is frequently backed up to University Drive from this exit, and has raised additional safety concerns of the intersection and highway junction. ADOT is currently investigating the redesign of this section of SR-143 to combat the numerous safety issues.

Further north on SR-143, the highway crosses the normally dry Salt River bed, and enters the Sky Harbor International Airport area. Traffic then passes through a ornately designed junction with the Red Mountain Freeway (Arizona State Route Loop 202), and on to the northern terminus at McDowell Road.

Exit 3 from Eastbound Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway connects to southbound SR 143. The ramp also goes to Washington St., however, the SR 143 has no access to this ramp. Although the Exit is part of the SR 143 alignment, it is actually an exit for Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway.

Being that SR-143 connects the Red Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) to Interstate 10, this route is popular with local commuters seeking to bypass a stretch of Interstate 10 and US 60 between the mini-stack and the Broadway Curve, adding to additional traffic overload and safety issues at the interchange with I-10/US 60.

[edit] Exit Guide

Exit/Mile	Northbound	Southbound	Points of Interest / Notes
0	Expressway Begins	Broadway Road 48th Street	Expressway Ends
1A		East Tucson
1B		West Los Angeles
2	University Drive		Rio Salado College
3A	East
3B	Sky Harbor Int'l Airport		Sky Harbor International Airport
4	Washington St.		Gateway Community College - Pueblo Grande Museum
5	West To Central Phoenix
END	McDowell Road	Expressway Begins	Expressway Ends