I-17

I-17 Improvement Project taking shape one year into major construction

I-17 Improvement Project taking shape one year into major construction

I-17 Improvement Project taking shape one year into major construction

By Laura Douglas / ADOT Communications

September 28, 2023

Progress on the I-17 Improvement Project

Progress is happening and drivers are noticing. If you’ve recently driven along Interstate 17 north of the Phoenix metro area, you’ve seen the flurry of construction activity, along with the noticeable changes to this well-traveled highway, as the I-17 Improvement Project moves toward a safer and more efficient corridor for all drivers.

This week marks one year since major construction work began to add new general purpose lanes and flex lanes along the 23 miles from Anthem Way to Sunset Point. In addition to the new lanes, 10 bridges will be widened and two others will be replaced. Once complete in 2025, this major design-build project will help alleviate congestion and improve safety and traffic flow.

When construction began one year ago, I-17 looked a lot different than it does today. Check out our photo gallery that shows the progress at several locations along the project corridor.

The last 12 months have been largely dedicated to moving dirt and rock, through controlled rock blasting and earthwork, and this will continue into 2024. The rock blasting is necessary to make way for the 15 miles of widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City, along with the eight miles of flex lanes, which will be constructed next to the existing southbound lanes from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point. The flex lanes, or reversible lanes, are a new feature for Arizona’s highway system and are designed to reduce congestion on I-17 during peak travel times.

Paving work in the southern section between Anthem Way and Table Mesa Road is one area where the crushed material from blasting is already being used as aggregate base, which is the second layer in the paving process. The paving began this summer and will continue into 2024. The paving process takes more than a year to complete because it requires four different layers, along with the appropriate weather conditions.

This major construction happens all while keeping I-17 open during the weekdays, weekends and holidays. Restrictions and infrequent lane closures only occur during weeknight overnight hours to minimize impacts to all drivers who rely on this corridor. However, the majority of the work still happens during the day as crews work in the median or on the sides of the highway to improve this critical corridor.

For more information about the I-17 Improvement Project, visit improvingi17.com.

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ADOT conducting public survey about I-17 speed limit in Phoenix

ADOT conducting public survey about I-17 speed limit in Phoenix

ADOT conducting public survey about I-17 speed limit in Phoenix

September 15, 2023

Input sought in association with new law, independent speed study

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has launched a public survey to gather input about the speed limit along a stretch of Interstate 17 in Phoenix, in accordance with a new state law.

ADOT has commissioned an independent study to determine an appropriate speed limit for I-17 between the I-10 “Split” interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Peoria Avenue. The speed limit for that part of I-17 is currently 55 mph.

You can take part in the online survey from now through Saturday, Sept. 30, at https://tinyurl.com/I-17speedlimits; by email at [email protected]); and by phone at 1.855.712.8530. Comments also can be mailed to: I-17 Speed Limit Study, ADOT Community Relations, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

The speed study follows passage of legislation (SB 1102) that calls for a minimum speed limit of 65 mph on any interstate highway in counties with a population of 3 million or more people.

SB 1102 also stipulates that a lower speed limit can be set if certain conditions are met, including:

A lower limit is deemed necessary based on an independent engineering study or roadway assessment.
The overall system capacity and mobility along the freeway will not be reduced.
An opportunity for public input is provided.

The I-17 speed limit study is scheduled for completion in mid-October.

I-17 project installing fiber-optic infrastructure wins regional award

I-17 project installing fiber-optic infrastructure wins regional award

I-17 project installing fiber-optic infrastructure wins regional award

September 12, 2023

Effort involved 67 miles between Anthem Way and McGuireville

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project that installed high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure along 67 miles of Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and McGuireville has won a regional award.

The construction trade publication Engineering News-Record honored the team responsible for the project, including prime contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., with a 2023 Best Projects Award of Merit for the Southwest region in the Specialty Construction category.

As part of the state’s initiative to bring broadband internet access to more Arizonans, the $20.6 million project completed earlier this year installed conduit and fiber-optic cable between Anthem Way and the McGuireville Rest Area. This work connected and completed a broader project totalling 146 miles of fiber-optic conduit between Van Buren Street in Phoenix and the I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff. Future fiber-optic conduit projects are planned along the length of I-40 through northern Arizona.

ADOT, which designed the winning project in partnership with Kimley-Horn, worked with Kiewit to use innovative micro-trenching technology to install the fiber-optic infrastructure under the asphalt shoulder of I-17. This helped address challenges posed by hard rock next to the highway and deliver the project in a safer, faster and more cost-effective manner with minimal impacts on the public.

Winning projects will be honored in Engineering News-Record’s Oct. 30 issue and at a luncheon in Phoenix on Oct. 31.

Fiber-optic conduit also has been added along I-19 between the Tucson area and Nogales. These efforts complement a state law that allows private broadband providers to install, operate and maintain telecommunications equipment within ADOT’s right of way using conduit installed along state highways.

In addition to the benefits to rural broadband connectivity, ADOT plans to use the fiber to provide intelligent transportation systems technology, such as overhead message boards, traffic cameras, weather stations and wrong-way driving detection. The infrastructure also will help lay the groundwork for emerging technologies like connected and automated vehicles.

For more information on ADOT’s broadband efforts, please visit azdot.gov/Broadband.
See a map of current and planned fiber-optic conduit routes.

I-17 pavement improvement project starts again south of Flagstaff

I-17 pavement improvement project starts again south of Flagstaff

I-17 pavement improvement project starts again south of Flagstaff

April 24, 2023

Lane restrictions needed as work resumes following winter shutdown

FLAGSTAFF – After a break due to the winter weather season, a project to repave and make other improvements along southbound Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff has resumed with lane restrictions starting today (Monday, April 24).

Drivers should expect lane restrictions in several areas while the pavement improvement work is underway over the next several months, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Southbound I-17 is currently narrowed to one lane around the clock in several locations between Flagstaff and the Munds Park area during the current stage of repaving.

ADOT recommends drivers allow extra travel time, especially during peak travel times. Motorists also should obey reduced speed limits and stay alert for workers and equipment in all work zones.

In all, the $35 million project, which started last year, will repave 29 miles of southbound I-17 between Flagstaff and the Coconino/Yavapai county line. The project also includes bridge repairs and improvements along shoulders and interchange ramps. Work is scheduled for completion by fall 2023.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov. ADOT also provides highway condition updates via its Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT.

Heavy Lifting: First girders installed on I-17 Improvement Project

Heavy Lifting: First girders installed on I-17 Improvement Project

Heavy Lifting: First girders installed on I-17 Improvement Project

April 3, 2023

New River Road traffic interchange first to mark girder milestone

PHOENIX – Drivers who travel Interstate 17 between Anthem Way and Sunset Point will undoubtedly notice a very different scene, as construction along this 23 miles of scenic highway is well underway.

Before the road is widened and the flex lanes are added, there is significant bridge work that must take place. The New River Road traffic interchange at milepost 232 has been under construction, as the bridges on both the northbound and southbound sides need to be widened from two lanes in each direction to three lanes. Massive girders were recently installed on both bridges in order to support the bridge decks, or the actual roadway, that vehicles will travel over once the project is complete.

The girders were set during the overnight hours, which is when most of the work is completed for the Arizona Department of Transportation’s I-17 Improvement Project. Crews from the Kiewit-Fann Joint Venture developer team set nine girders on each bridge during a two-night operation. There are three sizes of girders, or beams, with the largest weighing about 45,000 pounds (22.5 tons) and the smallest weighing about 30,000 pounds (15 tons).

Setting the girders is a critical operation for the construction crews and one that requires several hours of careful work. Getting the girders hoisted up and then set into place requires significant coordination, safety precautions and quality control. Girder placement signifies the start of completing the bridges at the New River Road traffic interchange, which is a major milestone.

The New River Road traffic interchange bridges are the first two of 10 bridges that will be widened as part of the I-17 Improvement Project. These two bridges are expected to be fully completed by late summer. Three additional bridges are being fully constructed or replaced as part of this project.

More about the I-17 Improvement Project:

Once complete in 2025, the I-17 Improvement Project will help alleviate congestion and improve safety and traffic flow north of the metro Phoenix region. The 23 miles of improvements include 15 miles of roadway widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City. One travel lane will be added in each direction along this stretch. In addition, an eight-mile flex lane system will be constructed from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point. Flex lanes are a new feature for Arizona’s highway system and are proven technology to help reduce congestion on I-17 during peak travel times and allow for traffic movement during emergency situations.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate, two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep, winding eight miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday. Similarly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays.

The two flex lanes will be next to, but physically separated from southbound I-17 using concrete barriers. Access to the flex-lane entrances will be controlled by gates. Overhead message signs will alert drivers to the open direction of the flex lanes. The flex lanes will be operational seven days a week.

For more information about the I-17 Improvement Project, visit improvingi17.com, call 877.476.1717 or email [email protected].

Click on images to view enlarged.

Public meetings slated for Kingman and Flagstaff to present Electric Vehicle charger plan

Public meetings slated for Kingman and Flagstaff to present Electric Vehicle charger plan

Public meetings slated for Kingman and Flagstaff to present Electric Vehicle charger plan

October 27, 2022

Two public meetings in northern Arizona have been scheduled by the Arizona Department of Transportation to share the details of its plan to develop a network of electric vehicle fast charging stations along interstate highways in Arizona.

The first meeting is in Kingman and will be held on Tuesday, November 1st from 5-7 p.m. at the Mohave County Administration Building, 700 W Beale Street.

In Flagstaff, the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 2nd from 5-7 p.m. at the Flagstaff Aquaplex, 1702 N Fourth Street.

This is an open house format without a formal discussion; a recorded presentation with study details will be shown throughout the meeting and study team members will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Under the recently-approved plan funded through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, Arizona’s Interstate highways including I-40, I-17 and I-15 in northern Arizona, will have improved or new charging stations placed in locations along the highway no more than 50 miles apart. That work is slated to begin in 2023.

The goal of the federal NEVI program is to encourage adoption of electric vehicles by improving the accessibility, reliability and equity of clean transportation options.

For more information about the EV plan, additional ways to provide input including an online survey, as well as details on upcoming meetings throughout the state, visit /planning/transportation-studies/arizona-electric-vehicle-program

ADOT to repave 29 miles of southbound I-17 near Flagstaff

ADOT to repave 29 miles of southbound I-17 near Flagstaff

ADOT to repave 29 miles of southbound I-17 near Flagstaff

June 14, 2022

FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation is starting a project to replace pavement on 29 miles of Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff in order to create a smooth driving surface and repair damage from winter weather.

The work will stretch from the I-40 interchange south to the Coconino County line at milepost 312. Crews will mill down the worn, rough pavement and replace it with new pavement.

Drivers should expect southbound I-17 to be restricted to one lane around-the-clock in a couple of locations between Kachina Boulevard and south of Munds Park as work begins. Drivers should be prepared to slow down and proceed through the work zones with caution.

Crews will move to different locations as work is completed along the corridor.

In addition to the travel lanes and shoulders, several on- and off-ramps and nine bridges within the project area will be repaved. The $34.9 million project is expected to last until summer of 2024 with stoppage in work during the winter.

ADOT completed pavement replacement work on the same stretch of I-17 in the northbound direction in the fall of 2019.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the Northcentral District.

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Teamwork makes protecting I-17 bridge decks work

Kathy Cline/ADOT Communications

April 26, 2022

A truck striking the bottom of a lower-height bridge deck -- also commonly called an overpass -- can cause plenty of damage.

ADOT engineers had noticed that one problem area were I-17 overpasses in Phoenix. Trucks hitting overpasses at 19th Avenue, 16th Street and other locations were causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Enter the Central District and Regional Traffic Engineering teams. After exploring a few options, it was determined that a solution to this recurring issue was adding red-and-white reflective sheeting to the bottom decks of several I-17 bridges. This makes the bridge overpass stand out for trucks that don't meet the bridge clearance.

Sheeting was trimmed to fit the bottom edges of the bridges. Highway Operations team members installed the material on I-17 overpasses at 19th Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Seventh Street and 16th Street.

The team's ingenuity and perseverance paid off. Since the sheeting was installed last summer, there have been no bridge hits at those locations. Previously, overpass repairs at those locations totaled about $37,000 a year.

“The feedback so far has been very favorable regarding the visibility, cost and ease of installation,” said Highway Operations Superintendent Sean McHugh. “Based on this easier and lower cost process, standard work was created for low-height bridges that can be applied across the state.”

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Advisory: Public meeting next week for I-17 Improvement Project

Advisory: Public meeting next week for I-17 Improvement Project

Advisory: Public meeting next week for I-17 Improvement Project

April 19, 2022

PHOENIX – With construction set to begin later this year on Interstate 17 between Anthem Way and Sunset Point, the Arizona Department of Transportation is hosting its second public meeting to share information and answer questions.

ADOT encourages everyone to participate to find out what to expect while work is underway through 2025, and how the improvements will help reduce congestion and enhance safety and traffic flow along this busy 23-mile stretch of highway north of Phoenix.

Join the project team for an in-person open house at Canon Elementary School, 34630 School Loop Road in Black Canyon City, on Tuesday, April 26. The open house begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 6 p.m. The open house will continue from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For those who can’t make it to the public meeting, there is an online option to find out about the project and ask questions. The project’s virtual open house can be accessed via improvingi17.com/openhouse and has been live since March 31. This standing open house provides the same information as the March 31 virtual public meeting and the in-person meeting on April 26, but can be viewed at your convenience. It also provides opportunities to ask questions or submit comments. This option will be available through April 26. To date, more than 1,200 people have utilized the online open house.

Construction on the highly anticipated I-17 Improvement Project: Anthem Way to Sunset Point will begin later this year and is expected to take approximately three years to complete. Pre-construction work is currently underway. Once the major work officially begins, drivers can expect the entire 23 miles to be under construction at once and should plan their trips accordingly.

Once complete, this project will help alleviate congestion and improve safety and traffic flow north of the metro Phoenix region. The 23 miles of improvements include 15 miles of roadway widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City, two bridge replacements, one bridge deck replacement, 10 bridge widenings, and the installation of an approximately eight-mile flex lane system from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point. Flex lanes are a new feature for Arizona’s highway system and are proven technology to help reduce congestion on I-17 during peak travel times and allow for traffic movement during emergency situations.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate, two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depending on the greatest need along the steep, winding 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday. Similarly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays. The flex lanes will be next to, but physically separated from southbound I-17 using concrete barriers. Access to the flex-lane entrances will be controlled by gates.

For more information about the I-17 public meetings or this project, visit improvingi17.com, call 877.476.1717 or email [email protected].

ADOT, NAU biologists work to protect endangered species while improving Verde River bridges

ADOT, NAU biologists work to protect endangered species while improving Verde River bridges

ADOT, NAU biologists work to protect endangered species while improving Verde River bridges

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

April 4, 2022

As you drive through the Verde Valley on Interstate 17, you won’t notice any construction work as you cross over the Verde River. But down below the highway, crews are working in the river bed to reinforce the footings of the Verde River Bridges to prevent erosion.

But there’s more going on than just construction work. Because that work is taking place in an area that is home to several endangered species, including snakes, birds and fish, biology teams work alongside construction crews to find and relocate these species.

This team of biomonitors from Northern Arizona University is led by Dr. Erika Nowak, assistant research professor in the Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes and director of the NAU Gartersnake Research Program.

Their purpose is to ensure that these species are protected as best they can be, given the construction activities. These species include the northern Mexican gartersnake, birds such as the yellow-billed cuckoo and the southwestern willow flycatcher, and endangered fish like the razorback sucker and spikedace.

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Specifically, the team trains construction workers and project team members on identifying these species and what to do if they come across one. They will also watch construction activity and help ensure that any species are safely removed out of harm’s way.

Because the work is in the river bed, crews built earthen bypass channels to contain river flow so crews can work outside of the area safely. For this team, it means that the biomonitors will remove all fish from pools that need to be filled in and rescue fish stranded during river moving events.

So what does the biology team do with these captured creatures? The team will identify the species as well as photograph and measure them. The northern Mexican gartersnakes are microchipped. And then, they are released. Fish and amphibian tadpoles are released into the Verde River downstream of the construction area.

“The relocation distance varies, but it’s typically about 50-150 yards from the capture point. We don’t want to release the animals too far away, as moving them out of their home range can disrupt their behavior, cause them to become disoriented, and thus more likely to die,” Nowak said.

You can learn more about the NAU biology team led by Dr. Nowak and their research on northern Mexican gartersnakes here.

The project to protect the I-17 Verde River Bridge footings is set to be completed later this spring. Learn more about the project itself here.

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