The final two elements of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in the Ahwatukee area are scheduled to be completed in October.

The interchange at 32nd Street and the 6-mile shared-use path will open together once both are completed, barring any unexpected delays. Both had originally been scheduled to open in September, but delays related to COVID-19 have slowed the work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The 32nd Street interchange was added to the project at the request of area residents and following an environmental review process. Work on the interchange began after the freeway opened in December 2019. During construction, 32nd Street has remained open to allow access to the business located south of the freeway.

The shared-use path, which runs from 40th Street to 17th Avenue, will provide recreational opportunities for walkers, cyclists and other non-motorized users south of the freeway. Residents will be able to access the path at each freeway cross street, including 40th, 32nd and 24th streets, Desert Foothills Parkway and 17th Avenue.

For safety reasons, the path cannot open while work continues at the 32nd Street interchange, and no one should use the path at this time.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway provides a connection between the East Valley and West Valley that allows drivers to travel across the Phoenix area while avoiding potential congestion in downtown Phoenix.