Current route: JCT I-10/AZ 202 to JCT AZ 101 in Phoenix
Since: 1987

See also Piestewa Freeway

This is the only new freeway to be built through central Phoenix, other than I-10. There was to be a companion route AZ 50 but that was cancelled. This freeway, the Piestewa Freeway, serves as a main north-south route through the middle of town, circling around its namesake peak.

The original segment from McDowell Rd. to Glendale Ave. was originally built by the city of Phoenix, and turned over to ADOT. It was not up to state standards, and ADOT has made some modifications. It is now four lanes each way between Thomas Rd. and I-10/AZ 202, and ADOT removed all the landscaping in the median, replacing it with a triple cable fence.

In 2003-2004, ADOT rebuilt the southern section between I-10/AZ 202 and Shea Blvd., adding an HOV lane and axillary lanes between exits.

In 2003, it was renamed from Squaw Peak Parkway to Piestewa Freeway in honor of Lori Piestewa, who was killed in Iraq.

The final section between Bell Rd and AZ 101 was opened 5/31/2003.

The Piestewa Freeway uses sonic sensors to measure traffic flow, rather than the usual inductive loops cut into the pavement.

This picture shows an unusual marker; normally the directional caption is on top, not on the bottom. It has since been replaced with a conventional arrangement.

AZ 51 EXIT LIST
Piestewa Freeway

EXIT	NORTHBOUND EXITS Read down	SOUTHBOUND EXITS Read up
	SPEED LIMIT 55	SPEED LIMIT 55
		◊ HOV 2+ ONLY EAST Tucson NO AIRPORT EXIT EAST WEST Los Angeles
1	McDowell Rd	McDowell Rd
2	Thomas Rd 20th St	Thomas Rd 20th St
3	Indian School Rd VA Medical Center	Indian School Rd VA Medical Center
4A	Highland Ave Camelback Rd	Colter Ave Camelback Rd
4		Bethany Home Rd
4B	Bethany Home Rd
5	Glendale Ave Lincoln Dr	Glendale Ave Lincoln Dr
5	SPEED LIMIT 65	SPEED LIMIT 55
7	Northern Ave	Northern Ave
8	32nd St
9	Shea Blvd Paradise Valley Scottsdale	Shea Blvd
9	◊HOV LANE ENDS	◊HOV LANE BEGINS
10	Cactus Rd	Cactus Rd
11	Thunderbird Rd
12	Greenway Rd	Greenway Rd
13	Bell Rd	Bell Rd
14	Union Hills Dr Paradise Valley Comm College	Union Hills Dr Paradise Valley Comm College
15A	EAST
15B	WEST
	SPEED LIMIT 65	SPEED LIMIT 65

The exit numbers are arranged better than they were before the 2003-2004 rebuild, but there are still some problems. Exits 2 and 3 are actually in mileposts 1 and 2. The soutbound numbering for Bethany Home Rd. and Colter Ave. was backwards originally, with Bethany Home as 4A and Colter as 4B. Colter has been fixed, but the A was just peeled off the Bethany Home signs. This should be changed to 4B to match the northbound exit. Also, there's one overhead sign that still says Bethany Home is 4A.

The new southbound HOV ramp to I-10 East doesn't have any signs that identify where it goes.

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Last updated 8/2/2004