Via Friars Rd/163 Newsletter: Believe it or not we are in the home stretch of this project. As the completion date nears, major traffic changes are on the horizon.
- On Tuesday, August 19 at 9p.m., the northbound State Route 163 (SR-163) to eastbound Friars Road off-ramp will permanently close. All motorists will use the current westbound Friars Road off-ramp. The off-ramp has been upgraded to four lanes. Two lanes for westbound Friars Road motorists and two lanes for eastbound Friars Road motorists. The upgraded off-ramp also includes a new traffic signal.
- Eastbound and westbound motorists can only access Friars Road on a green traffic signal. The free right turn to westbound Friars Road has been eliminated. The new traffic signal requires motorists on eastbound Friars Road to stop.
The purpose of these changes is to improve access for all motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. It is designed to reduce the weaving on northbound SR-163 prior to the Friars Road off-ramps and will reduce the weaving issues for motorists exiting the freeway to eastbound Friars Road. Motorists will no longer have to cross five lanes of traffic to access northbound Frazee Road. Eastbound Friars Road pedestrians and bicycles will no longer have to cross the roadway with vehicles merging from the eastbound off-ramp at freeway speeds.
