Traffic on the 10 and 143 between 202 and airport during non-rush (Phoenix: rentals, house) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

gsheridan · 07-15-2009, 11:53 AM

I'm all over the map at the moment, literally, as we get down to the stretch and pick a rental house for Aug 1st.

I'm going where the rentals are, and currently that includes Grayhawk, eastern Ahwatukee, 56th and Tatum/Bell area, and Desert Ridge.

All but Ahwatukee are close to our friend in Desert Ridge, which is a big plus, but Ahwatukee seems like it will be a little closer to the airport, where my wife will be working. Her office is right near the intersection of 143 and University Dr.

I'm guessing all these areas(including Ahwatukee) will be around 30 minutes during rush hour traffic, but I'm trying to figure out whether Ahwatukee has a significant edge during off peak hours. What I'm thinking of, is my wife having the ability to shoot home quickly during the day in case of a kids' emergency or a school event for one of the kids.

A house I'm looking at in the eastern part of Ahwatukee(E. Ray Rd and 33 St, just a little west of S. Mountain Parkway) is only 12 miles from the airport without traffic(18 minutes according to google maps), but is it unrealistic to think she'd be able to make it in that little time during the middle of the day?

I guess getting home from the airport to Ahwatukee could be quick, but heading back from Ahwatukee to the airport? Can that get ugly, even in the middle of the day? It wouldn't surprise me.

Thanks.

Cyborg13 · 07-15-2009, 01:35 PM

During midday traffic really isn't too bad. You can probably make the trip in about that time frame. I actually use 143 about 2-3pm quite often and it's usually pretty light. Sometimes backs up a little when it merges onto I-10 or 202, but nothing too bad.

observer53 · 07-15-2009, 02:27 PM

It's an easy trip either direction during non-rush hours, and it's just far fewer miles than the other options. If that's a concern, then to me, that is the deal-breaker (or deal-maker). You need to be living close to where one of you works. (In a pinch, you CAN get in and out of Ahwatukee without using the 10 at all)

Valley Native · 07-15-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by observer53

It's an easy trip either direction during non-rush hours, and it's just far fewer miles than the other options. If that's a concern, then to me, that is the deal-breaker (or deal-maker). You need to be living close to where one of you works. (In a pinch, you CAN get in and out of Ahwatukee without using the 10 at all)

Ahwatukee is a nightmare to get in & out of ... regardless if you use a freeway or surface streets. I like the atmosphere of Ahwatukee, but I wouldn't live there at all based on the traffic/commute alone. The problem is that South Mountain shuts off Ahwatukee from most points northward, including Sky Harbor Int'l Airport and downtown ... so there are very few alternatives except the I10 or 48th Street for commuting. The OP should be prepared for bottlenecks regardless of the time of day.

observer53 · 07-16-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Ahwatukee is a nightmare to get in & out of ... regardless if you use a freeway or surface streets. I like the atmosphere of Ahwatukee, but I wouldn't live there at all based on the traffic/commute alone. The problem is that South Mountain shuts off Ahwatukee from most points northward, including Sky Harbor Int'l Airport and downtown ... so there are very few alternatives except the I10 or 48th Street for commuting. The OP should be prepared for bottlenecks regardless of the time of day.

Sorry, but it does NOT bottleneck all day long. I've been in and out of Tempe along the 10 in the middle of the day hours, and it's not a problem. If the commute is only to the airport, and good schools are such a primary concern, then it's a much better choice than Desert Ridge, 56th and Bell, or Grayhawk, which are the other options.

homlish560 · 07-19-2009, 11:45 AM

It's the same ol' story. Traffic is no piece of cake around here during Peak times.

gsheridan · 07-22-2009, 01:16 PM

homlish56, what roads are those in the pics? Do you remember approximately what time it was?

observer53 · 07-22-2009, 01:22 PM

The first picture is DOWNTOWN Phoenix. The second one looks also like I-10, central Phoenix. Nowhere near the area you asked about in the title of this thread.

You can get snapshots of heavy traffic in LOTS of locations around the Valley during peak driving hours (and that includes other stretches of I10 and the other freeways). It's a big spread out city, with lots of commuters. Fact of life.

That's why the most common advice here is to live relatively close to where you work, so the commute doesn't get old fast (and, as you mentioned elsewhere, so that your wife can get home quickly during the day if there is an issue with one of the kids).

LocoAZnative · 07-22-2009, 01:32 PM

If you want to see the freeways at rush hour here are the realtime freeways cams

ADOT Freeway Management System (http://www.az511.com/CameraImages/index.php - broken link)

SpeedyAZ · 07-22-2009, 02:21 PM

Do you know what hours she will be working?

Morning rush hour starts at 7:30 a.m. and lasts until about 9:30 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. traffic is light and its quite easy to get around. Evening rush hour starts about 4:00 p.m. and lasts until around 6:00 p.m. If you can avoid those hours you'll have an easy commute.