PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today announced significant improvements to Interstate 17 north of Phoenix. The governor was joined by the directors of the Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona Office of Tourism along with business leaders, local elected officials and transportation stakeholders. The announced improvements are the result of joint efforts from a state, local and federal partnership, including $130 million proposed in Governor Ducey’s executive budget and included in the fiscal year 2020 budget signed earlier this year.

“On busy days, this stretch of Interstate 17 can see more than 50,000 drivers a day – and we want to make sure every one of them gets to their destination safely and without long delays,” said Governor Ducey. “My thanks to ADOT Director Halikowski, U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally, and our local and regional partners who have worked together to make this investment possible. With these improvements, Arizona is building better roads for a better future – with more to come.”

Investments topping $300 million will widen I-17 to three lanes along 15 miles between Anthem and Black Canyon City and build an 8-mile system of flex lanes on the grade between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. The project is set to begin by spring 2021, with completion of all improvements expected by 2023.

“Investing in critical transportation infrastructure will drive Arizona’s 21st century economy and support future prosperity,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Improving I-17 has been a priority for many years, and it is exciting to see that dream becoming a reality thanks to this collaboration led by Governor Ducey.”

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 heavier northbound traffic on a Friday or southbound traffic on a Sunday and also can keep traffic moving if there is a closure in that stretch.

In addition to the $130 million included in this year’s budget, the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional planning agency, is investing $50 million in the widening. Thanks to support from Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally, along with others in Arizona’s congressional delegation, ADOT also recently won a highly competitive $90 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant that will go toward the project.

For more details about the project, click on the icon at right for an expanded view of the graphic. 

PHOENIX – With planned Interstate 17 flex lanes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point set for construction starting by 2021, the state budget approved by state lawmakers and signed by Governor Doug Ducey provides the additional funding needed to also complete widening I-17 south of where the flex system will be built.

This $130 million investment to complete new third lanes in both directions of I-17 between Anthem and Black Canyon City is one of many in the budget that will expand and preserve transportation infrastructure across Arizona. Appropriations from the State General Fund include $10 million for an ADOT study on adding lanes to Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson and $10.5 million for preserving state highways to extend the life of existing pavement.

“As Governor Ducey and members of the legislature recognize, investing in critical transportation infrastructure will drive Arizona’s 21st century economy. Our leaders are investing today to support Arizona’s future prosperity,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “As we expand critical commerce corridors and safeguard our state’s $22.6 billion investment in our transportation system, it’s equally important to keep roads in our rural communities safe and reliable.”

In addition to baseline funding for transportation and infrastructure, the budget includes more than $95 million in appropriations from the State General Fund for targeted transportation projects that will improve safety and spur economic development in Greater Arizona. This includes $28 million for expanding US 95 between Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground, that region’s largest employer. There is $20 million to help build two Interstate 40 interchanges needed to accommodate growth in Kingman, with the city providing the remainder of the funding required.

ADOT has been working to advance projects to improve traffic flow and safety along 23 miles of I-17 between Anthem and Sunset Point north of Phoenix. More than $190 million was already committed to building flex lanes north of Black Canyon City as well as adding 7 miles of a third southbound lane directly south of that project.

Investing an additional $130 million over three years will allow ADOT to complete all sections of new third lanes between Anthem and Black Canyon City. Combined with the flex lanes, this increased capacity will enhance safety and help address traffic flow challenges and backups that occur due to crashes and when many drivers are traveling to or from Arizona’s high country on summer weekends.

The Maricopa Association of Governments is providing $50 million in regional funds to help fund the widening of I-17 between Black Canyon City and Anthem.

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 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. With gates at each end and separated by concrete barrier from the current southbound lanes, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavier northbound traffic on a Friday or southbound traffic on a Sunday. They also can keep traffic moving if there is a closure in that stretch.

Required environmental studies for the I-17 corridor are scheduled to be completed by this summer, with the projects scheduled for completion by 2023.

The budget commits $10 million from the State General Fund to an ADOT study, in collaboration with the Maricopa Association of Governments and Gila River Indian Community, on adding a lane in each direction and improving interchanges on I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Completing a design concept report and environmental study will determine needs and costs, and establish how the improvements will be phased. This process is on track to begin this year with an accelerated 18-month timeline.

The $51.1 million in funds, including $10.5 million in additional funding from the State General Fund, will allow ADOT to preserve the road surface along more miles of state highway through treatments known as fog seals and chip seals. These investments are critical to extend the life of existing pavement by sealing road surfaces against the ravages of weather, heavy use and time.

The budget’s other transportation infrastructure investments from the State General Fund include:

• $18 million for counties and cities and towns
• $10 million for local aviation projects
• $6.5 million for Mesa to construct a State Route 24 bridge over Ellsworth Road
• $2.8 million for Globe to repair or replace the Jesse Hayes Road over Pinal Creek

PHOENIX – With warm weather returning, the Arizona Department of Transportation is resuming projects to repair and preserve the surfaces of state highways in Arizona’s high country.

While ADOT works to minimize delays for those traveling to and from northern Arizona, including not scheduling work over weekends and holidays, highways at higher elevations can only be paved during warmer months. Drivers heading north this summer should prepare by checking the Arizona Traveler Information site az511.gov, calling 511 and following ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) to get the latest information on highway restrictions.

“Summer is the best time to do work on northern Arizona highways because the overnight temperatures need to be high enough for new pavement to cure properly,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “These projects help repair long-term damage to pavement from multiple winters.”

Work has resumed along Interstate 40 between Cataract Lake and Parks west of Flagstaff, with crews first repairing the Grand Canyon Boulevard traffic interchange in Williams. There will be ramp closures at this interchange through early June as crews repair the ramps and guardrail. Crews will finish the project by laying fresh pavement along 17 miles of I-40.

Last summer, crews rebuilt 5 miles of I-40 in each direction between Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley roads as well as a 1-mile section in each direction near the Parks interchange.

In June, ADOT will resume paving northbound Interstate 17 from the Coconino County line to the I-40 interchange in Flagstaff. Last year, crews rebuilt the highway between mileposts 312 and 315 and installed new bridges at Willard Springs Road.

A project scheduled to begin in mid-August will address pavement damage along State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon. The project, covering nearly 12 miles between uptown Sedona and the Pumphouse Wash bridge, will mill down the damaged roadway and install new pavement and guardrail.

For more information on these and other projects in Arizona’s high country, and to sign up to receive project updates, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

ADOT’s free AZ 511 app, available for iOS and Android devices, allows you to save your favorite routes and destinations, learn about incidents or road work that may affect a trip, get estimated travel times and learn about alternate routes. It complements the free ADOT Alerts app, available at ADOTAlerts.com, which uses geofencing technology to alert motorists in an area about major, unplanned incidents such as closures and direct them to alternate routes.