FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation has completed two improvement projects along Interstate 17 in the Flagstaff area in time for holiday and winter travel.

Crews have finished a $35 million project to resurface and make other improvements along 30 miles of southbound I-17 between McConnell Drive in Flagstaff and the Mogollon Rim scenic overlook. Nine bridges and a number of I-17 on- and off-ramps also were resurfaced. Work on the pavement improvements started in May 2022 and was completed before Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, an $8.2 million project to construct a new bridge carrying J.W. Powell Boulevard over I-17 near Flagstaff’s Pulliam Airport was completed this week. Work to replace the old Powell Boulevard bridge with a modern structure started in April.

The J.W. Powell Boulevard bridge is part of an often busy I-17 interchange that provides access to and from both Pulliam Airport and nearby Fort Tuthill Park.  

In addition to the new bridge providing a larger structure for vehicles traveling over I-17, the project has improved crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Crews constructed the project in stages. The new bridge was built next to the smaller existing J.W. Powell Boulevard structure. Completion of part of the new crossing allowed traffic to be switched from the old bridge. That older structure was then removed, clearing the way for completion of the entire project.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov and via the AZ511 app (download free for Apple and Android devices). ADOT also provides highway condition updates via its X/Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. 

PHOENIX – Work improving the Interstate 17 pavement surface in north Phoenix will occur only overnight this weekend, with southbound I-17 reduced to one lane beginning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

• Southbound I-17 will be narrowed to one lane overnight only between State Route 74/Carefree Highway and Dixileta Drive from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday; 9 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday; and 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation is continuing a much-needed project along I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. An older and rough top layer of asphalt pavement has been removed and specialized equipment is now being used to diamond grind the base concrete pavement, creating a smoother, safer and longer lasting riding surface along 6 miles of I-17. 

Drivers using I-17 southbound during these restrictions should budget extra time. Despite what a travel app may recommend, they should avoid attempting to detour on neighborhood streets that aren’t designed for freeway traffic. 

Future weekend restrictions for this project are currently scheduled as follows:

• Beginning Friday night, Oct. 11: Southbound I-17 narrowed to one lane starting at SR 74/Carefree Highway and closed at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive, with traffic using off- and on-ramps.
• Beginning Friday night, Oct. 18: Southbound I-17 closed at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive, with traffic using off- and on-ramps, and then narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road.

ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Southbound Interstate 17 will be closed at Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13-16, for ongoing pavement improvement work, with traffic taking the off- and on-ramps and then using one lane until Jomax Road.

Drivers should allow extra time, consider traveling during non-peak morning or nighttime hours and stay on the designated detour route.

To help keep traffic moving through the work zone, Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive will be closed under I-17. Eastbound Loop 303 traffic can reach northbound I-17 by taking I-17 southbound to Happy Valley Road. 

ADOT offers these additional tips to assist drivers when I-17 weekend closures are scheduled:

• Stay on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest. This is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others. Avoid attempting to detour on local streets, which are not designed for large traffic volumes.
   
• ADOT will be placing local-traffic-only closures at neighborhood entrances on a number of streets near I-17 to help keep detouring traffic off local roadways. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow.

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. Additional I-17 closures or lane restrictions will be needed as the work proceeds. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74.

Following the initial removal of an old, worn top layer of asphalt pavement along the freeway, crews are smoothing the freeway’s remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

Future weekend restrictions for this project are currently scheduled as follows:

• Northbound I-17 narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and SR 74/Carefree Highway from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, and from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Northbound Interstate 17 will be closed at Jomax Road in north Phoenix from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (Sept. 9) for ongoing pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. 

Traffic will detour along the northbound I-17 off- and on-ramps at Jomax Road. Northbound I-17 also will be narrowed to one lane between Jomax Road and Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive. 

Drivers should allow extra time, consider traveling during non-peak morning or nighttime hours and stay on the designated detour route.

ADOT offers these additional tips to assist drivers when I-17 weekend closures are scheduled:

• Stay on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest. This is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others. Avoid attempting to detour on local streets, which are not designed for large traffic volumes.
• ADOT will be placing local-traffic-only closures at neighborhood entrances on a number of streets near I-17 to help keep detouring traffic off local roadways. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow.

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. Additional I-17 closures or lane restrictions will be needed as the work proceeds. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74.

Following the initial removal of an old, worn top layer of asphalt pavement along the freeway, crews have been replacing bridge deck joints and have started smoothing the freeway’s remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

Future weekend restrictions are currently scheduled as follows:

• Southbound I-17 closed at Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 16. Traffic will detour along the off- and on-ramps at Loop 303. Southbound I-17 also narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and Jomax Road.
• Northbound I-17 narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and SR 74/Carefree Highway from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23.

Lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during freeway closures like those required along I-17, so drivers should plan ahead. Those with weekend plans to use I-17 through the north Valley can consider traveling before closures begin on Friday nights. Traffic on I-17 also generally is lighter during the early morning hours or later at night and is expected to be especially busy by midday on Saturday and Sunday.

The I-17 pavement work between Happy Valley Road and SR 74 is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit within that project’s work zone is 65 mph. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Drivers planning to use northbound Interstate 17 in the north Valley this weekend should budget extra time. A pavement improvement project is taking traffic off and back on at Jomax Road and reducing the freeway to one lane until Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive.

The closure at Jomax Road using the off- and on-ramps and the lane restrictions are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Friday and end by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12. Drivers should plan for delays, especially from morning to early afternoon Saturday and Sunday, and may want to consider traveling through the area earlier or later.

To help keep traffic moving through the work zone, Jomax Road will be closed at I-17 other than for northbound drivers exiting the freeway to turn right.

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74. Additional I-17 closures or lane restrictions will be needed as the work proceeds. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74.

ADOT offers these additional tips:

• Stay on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest. This is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others. Avoid attempting to detour on local streets, which are not designed for large traffic volumes.
   
• ADOT will be placing local-only closures at neighborhood entrances on a number of streets near I-17 to help direct detour traffic away from local roadways. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at intersections throughout the area to assist with traffic flow.
   
• Lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during freeway closures like this one, so drivers should plan ahead. Those with weekend plans to use northbound I-17 through the north Valley can consider traveling before Friday night’s closure begins. Traffic on northbound I-17 also generally is lighter during the early morning hours or later at night and is expected to be especially busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Following the initial removal of an old, worn top layer of asphalt pavement along the freeway, crews have been replacing bridge deck joints and have started smoothing the freeway’s remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

The I-17 pavement work between Happy Valley Road and SR 74 is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit within that project’s work zone is 65 mph. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Drivers planning to use southbound Interstate 17 in the north Valley this weekend should budget extra time with pavement improvement work reducing the freeway to one lane at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive and with traffic exiting and re-entering at Jomax Road. 

The lane restrictions and the closure at Jomax Road, with traffic using the off- and on-ramps, are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and end by 5 a.m. Monday, July 15. Drivers should plan for delays, especially from afternoon into early evening on Saturday and Sunday, and may want to consider traveling through the area earlier or later. 

Continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74, crews will be replacing bridge deck joints, among other work, in the stretch between Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive and Jomax Road. The project has already removed the top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement and later will smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. 

Other details:

• To help keep traffic moving through the work zone this weekend, east- and westbound Jomax Road will be closed at I-17. Southbound I-17 drivers wanting to access Jomax Road can continue to Happy Valley Road and use northbound 19th Avenue.

• Drivers wanting to enter southbound I-17 at Jomax Road will be directed onto northbound I-17 to access southbound I-17 at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive.

• The southbound I-17 off-ramp at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday, July 13, and from 9 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Sunday, July 14.

• Earlier in the week, on Wednesday and Thursday nights, July 10 and 11, southbound I-17 will be narrowed to one lane between Loop 303 and Dixileta Drive from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The southbound I-17 on-ramp at Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive also will be closed during the same hours. 

To learn more about this project and subscribe for updates, please visit  azdot.gov/i-17HappyValleySR74. 

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Northbound Interstate 17 has reopened early between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 following weekend pavement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on 6 miles of I-17 between Happy Valley Road and State Route 74, crews removed a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

To learn more about this project and subscribe for updates, please visit azdot.gov/subscribe > Central District Projects > I-17 (Black Canyon Freeway): I-10 to SR 74. 

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – Southbound Interstate 17 has reopened early between Loop 303 and Happy Valley Road following weekend pavement work. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation is grateful to motorists who used the posted detour route, which moved traffic efficiently throughout the weekend. 

Continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on I-17 between Happy Valley Road and SR 74, crews removed a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

While ADOT often can complete work without closing all lanes of a freeway, this weekend closure and two previous ones were needed for crews to safely and effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the stretch reopened to traffic.

A northbound I-17 closure is planned for next weekend between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 to complete this phase of the project. ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects).

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingi17.com. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – A busy stretch of northbound Interstate 17 has reopened early between Loop 303 and State Route 74 in the north Valley after weekend pavement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The posted detour using the northbound I-17 frontage road moved traffic efficiently throughout the weekend, and ADOT is grateful to drivers who heeded advice to use this route. Law enforcement officers and ADOT personnel were in the area to assist with local-only closures at neighborhood entrances. Staying on the posted detour, regardless of what a navigation app may have suggested, proved to be the best way to minimize delays.

Continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on I-17 between Happy Valley Road and SR 74, crews removed a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement, before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

While ADOT often can complete work without closing all lanes of a freeway, this closure and one the previous weekend southbound between SR 74 and Loop 303 were needed for crews to safely and effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the stretch reopened to traffic.

No I-17 closures are scheduled over Memorial Day weekend. To learn more about this project and to subscribe for updates, please visit azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects).

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingI17.com. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit within that project’s work zone is 65 mph. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.

PHOENIX – A busy stretch of northbound Interstate 17 in north Phoenix is scheduled to be closed this weekend (May 17-20) for pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should allow extra travel time and stay on the designated detour route, which uses the frontage road, while northbound I-17 is closed between Loop 303 and State Route 74 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Additionally, all traffic on eastbound Loop 303 will be directed to southbound I-17 to allow northbound detour traffic to freely flow through the intersection.

ADOT is advising drivers to not use local streets – including Sonoran Desert Drive and North Valley Parkway – as alternate routes, which is a recipe for longer delays and inconvenience for all. Using the frontage road, which offers two travel lanes (see detour map below), is safer for you and for those living nearby as well as being the most efficient route through the area.

Law enforcement officers will work throughout the area to assist with local-only closures at neighborhood entrances. ADOT also is taking steps to reduce the chances that navigation apps will direct drivers to local roads. Staying on the detour route regardless of what a navigation app may suggest is the best way to reduce delays for yourself and others.  

Crews are continuing a much-needed project to improve the ride on I-17. They are removing a top layer of older, worn asphalt pavement, before advancing to work to smooth the remaining concrete surface through a process called diamond grinding. While ADOT often can complete work without closing all lanes of a freeway, these closures are needed for crews to safely and  effectively remove the surface asphalt and clear as much dust and debris as possible before the stretch reopens to traffic.

Diamond grinding has been used in recent years to create a smoother and more durable road surface on a number of Phoenix-area freeways, including I-10, I-17, Loop 101 and Loop 202.

Lengthy traffic backups are unavoidable during these closures, so drivers should plan ahead. Those with weekend plans to use northbound I-17 from Phoenix may want to consider avoiding delays by traveling before Friday night’s closure begins. Traffic on the northbound freeway also will be lighter during the early morning hours or later at night.

With additional weekend closures needed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303 in June, ADOT encourages drivers to sign up for project traffic alerts at azdot.gov/projects (see Central District projects). No I-17 closures are scheduled over Memorial Day weekend. 

The I-17 pavement work between SR 74 and Happy Valley Road is separate from the I-17 Improvement Project currently underway north of Anthem Way. For more information about that larger project visit improvingI17.com. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit within that project’s work zone is 65 mph. 

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the az511 app or by calling 511.