TEMPE, AZ — A Union Pacific train derailed and caught fire Wednesday morning while crossing a bridge over Tempe Town Lake.As a result, the bridge partially collapsed.
As officials investigate what happened, some roadways around Tempe Town Lake have been closed, including portions of the Loop 202 freeway. Valley Metro has suspended portions of its light rail service and is instead using buses to route passengers. Also, some Tempe bus routes have been detoured.
Here is what you need to know:
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
Tempe Town Lake is closed until further notice. All boating activities and classes have also been canceled, according to a news release from the City of Tempe.
ROAD CLOSURES
According to Tempe Police and Arizona Department of Transportation, the following roads and freeways are closed:
- Rio Salado between Hardy and Mill
- Ash Ave between 3rd and Rio Salado
- Farmer between 1st St and river bottom
- 1st St between Ash and Farmer
- All of Tempe Beach Park
- All of Tempe Town Lake
- Bike lane paths from Mill Ave to pedestrian bridge
The Loop 202 has since reopened between Loop 101 and State Route 143. However, Loop 202 ramps between those two freeways are closed. The Loop 101 ramps to the Loop 202 westbound are closed.
Visit https://abc15.com/traffic for a look at traffic conditions around the Valley.
VALLEY METRO LIGHT RAIL
Valley Metro has temporarily terminated its eastbound service at 38th Street and Washington and Smith Martin and Apache Blvd. in Tempe. It was assembling buses to route passengers between those stops, according to tweets.
Service Alert/Update: Eastbound light rail service is terminating at 38th St/Wash and westbound service ends at Smith-Martin/Apache. Shuttle buses continue to transport passengers between those stations. #vmservice https://t.co/zvTruxeSgZ
— Valley Metro (@valleymetro) July 29, 2020
CITY OF TEMPE BUS DETOURS
In a news release, the City of Tempe said the following bus route detours are in place:
RTE 62 North
Regular route to University & Hardy
Right (E) University to Mill Ave
Left (N) Mill Ave to 5th St
Right (E) 5th to regular route.
RTE 62 South
Regular route Mill ave & 5th St
Left (S) Mill Ave to University
Right (W) University to Hardy
Left (S) Hardy to regular route.
RTE 48 South
Regular route to 5th St & Mill Ave
South (S) Mill Ave to University
Right (W) University to Priest Dr
Right (N) Priest Dr to Rio Salado
Left (W) Rio Salado to regular route.
RTE 48 North
Regular route to Rio Salado Pkwy & Priest Dr
Right (S) Rio Salado Pkwy to University
Left (E) University to Mill Ave
Left (N) Mill Ave to 5th St
Right (E) 5th St to regular route.
Venus Forward
Regular route to Regular route to 5th St& Hardy
Right (S) Hardy to University
Left (E) University to Mill Ave
Left (N) Mill Ave to 5th St
Right (E) 5th St to regular route.
Venus Back
Regular route to 5th St & Mill Ave
Left (S) on Mill Ave to University Drive
Right (W) University Drive to Hardy Dr
Right (N) Hardy Dr to 5th St
Left (W) on 5th St to resume regular route
Earth East
Leaving TTC, South College to University
Left (E) University Dr to Rural Rd
Left (N) Rural Rd to Curry
Left (W) Curry to College
Right (N) College to regular route.
Earth West
Regular route to College & Curry Rd
Left (E) Curry Rd to Scottsdale Rd
Right (S) Scottsdale Rd to University
Left (W) University to College
Right (N) College to TTC
