(Photo by Tracy Greer - KJZZ)

A view of Pecos Road in 2013.

The section of Pecos Road to the west of 17th Avenue in Phoenix will close permanently on Friday. Chandler Boulevard to the north will be extended to cover the same distance that the section of Pecos Road currently covers.

Dustin Krugel of the Arizona Department of Transportation said the changes will make way for the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway.

"By closing Pecos Road, which isn’t needed because of this new Chandler Boulevard extension, ADOT will be able to begin building the freeway segment between 17th Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, and we haven’t been able to start on that segment yet because traffic is still moving on Pecos Road," Krugel said.

The freeway extension will complete the Loop 202 freeway and connect the East and West valleys when completed in 2019.