I-17 Improvement Project to kick off in 2022, aiming to reduce traffic congestion

I-17 Improvement Project to begin in 2022

PHOENIX - The Arizona Dept. of Transportation has announced an agreement with developers to work on the I-17 Improvement Project, which aims to ease the major congestion many travelers experience driving up north from Phoenix during the holidays.

The project includes widening 15 miles of the highway between Anthem and Black Canyon City and the creation of eight miles of flex lanes from Black Canyon City to Sunset Point.

The flex lanes would act as a two-lane roadway that would carry one direction of traffic at a time depending on which side generally has the most congestion, according to ADOT.

"For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday," officials said. "Similarly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays."

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022 and is expected to take approximately three years. Now that a contract has been signed, work can begin on this highly anticipated project.