Arizona’s State Route 347, a crucial route connecting Maricopa to Phoenix, will undergo a widening project to address frequent accidents and growing traffic congestion.The $137 million project, partially funded by a Maricopa city sales tax, will widen a 7.3-mile stretch of the highway in Pinal County.Construction is slated to begin in late 2026 or 2027, with a separate project to widen the Maricopa County portion planned for 2031.Car crashes are frequent on State Route 347 — one nearly every day.”They pray to get to their jobs and they pray to get home to their families,” said Rich Vitiello, a Pinal County District Supervisor, at an Arizona State Transportation Board meeting June 20.He said he has pleaded with the board for about 20 years to pour resources into the dangerous and deadly 30-mile highway. He’s not alone.Residents along the highway have been pushing for roadway improvements for decades, which has deteriorated as the region developed quickly.But despite its danger, SR 347 is a necessary lifeline to the Phoenix area for those living in the city of Maricopa, which lies in Pinal County south of the Gila River Indian Community and is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.The Arizona Department of Transportation is seeking to do something about that danger. It authorized a widening project on the Pinal County portion of the freeway, a victory for residents and community leaders in a decades-long battle for funding.Where is SR 347?State Route 347 connects Interstate 10 southwest of Chandler to State Route 84 in Pinal County. It serves as the main line to the Phoenix area from Maricopa and cuts through the Gila River Indian Community.The freeway between Maricopa and Riggs Road, a section that lies in Pinal County, has seen a nearly 30% increase in the number of daily drivers in the past decade, according to ADOT data.Now, the freeway supports upwards of 50,000 daily drivers, and almost 80% of Maricopa’s population commutes to the Valley for work, school or other activities, said Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith.Congestion and near-daily car crashes are only expected to get worse as the population booms, making the SR 347 widening project proposed in ADOT’s five-year plan a necessity in the eyes of Maricopa residents and the City Council.What is the widening project?The 7.3-mile widening project approved in the five-year plan runs between the city of Maricopa and Riggs Road. The project is expected to cost more than $137 million.ADOT’s plan does not include work north of Riggs Road, which is part of Maricopa County. Work on the northern stretch of SR 347 is part of Maricopa County’s transportation plan.The project broadly aims to enhance safety, reduce congestion and support future growth. Elements include:Widening the freeway in one lane in each directionWidening existing bridges at Santa Rosa Wash, Santa Cruz Wash and Gila RiverIntersection improvements and modifications to accommodate a six-lane highway and improve safety and traffic flowHow is the project funded? Maricopa had their ‘own skin in the game’Part of the funding will come from the state, and Pinal County will contribute about $20 million to the $137 million price tag, according to Vitiello.But, $50 million will come from the residents of Maricopa themselves. In a push for transportation funding, namely SR 347, the “very conservative” city council approved a half-cent sales tax in May — something that has never been done in the city before, Smith said.The city noted that residents have supported actions like this in the past with Proposition 417, a voter-approved half-cent tax, and Proposition 469, a ballot …
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