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Phoenix Police Encourage Care Around Reverse Traffic Lanes

Not all drivers have experienced reverse traffic lanes. If you haven’t, Phoenix police officers are warning you to take care when approaching a reverse lane.

“They are something not all drivers may be used to or expect,” Sgt. Vince Lewis says. “The important thing to know here is we, as drivers, have to remove distractions and pay attention to what is going on. “Pay attention to the hours and operation of those lanes.”

You can find such lanes on 7th Street, between McDowell Road and Dunlap Avenue as well as between McDowell Road and Northern Avenue.


The reverse lanes open an extra lane during rush hours for commute in and out of downtown Phoenix. They run Monday— Friday.

The lanes run southbound 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. In the afternoon, they reverse. From 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the lane helps commuters return northbound. During this time, you cannot make left turns from those traveling southbound.

If you are unfamiliar with this process, be sure to take an extra look at the overhead signs. These signs will inform you about the designated times and warn you if the lane is prohibited.

Sgt. Lewis warns that commuters with a routine may need to take an extra minute to check the signs and learn how the road works, “You are going to have to be flexible and patient and just understand that some people don’t have the handle on how those lanes work.”

Be attentive of your surroundings while you use these reverse lanes. To avoid an accident, remove any distractions, like cell phones, and drive carefully as usual.

If you’re confused by the process, get informed before trying to merge. Sgt. Lewis encourages drivers to use the lanes their used to if they don’t understand the reverse lanes. He states, “If you’re not sure of how to use the lane or when to use the lane, you’ve got two other lanes of travel on either side of you that you would use normally.”

Most importantly, Sgt. Lewis encourages drivers to drive safely, “We want to make sure everyone removes distractions, pays attention to the already difficult task of driving, be alert that road conditions can change ahead of you, and watch out for pedestrians.”