Between Anthem Way and Sunset Point, there is a 23-mile section of Interstate 17 that sees more than 1 million travelers every year.Motorists traveling between the Phoenix area and Flagstaff have been using two travel lanes in each direction slotted between steep, mountainous terrain.Heavily congested traffic in the area results in crashes and major delays during peak travel times. The I-17 improvement project aims to reduce the risk of driving on this highway for travelers and locals.Here’s everything you need to know about the I-17 improvement project.What work is being done on I-17 north of Phoenix?The project began in 2018 with “technical analysis, environmental assessment and public involvement,” according to the project’s informational website. The more than $500 million project garnered funding from sources like the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant, state highway funds appropriated by the state legislature in 2019 and federal aid with matching state highway funds.The I-17 improvement project will:Widen 15 miles of roadway.Replace two bridges.Widen 10 other bridges.Construct approximately 8 miles of flex lanes.Why is I-17 being widened?On weekends and holidays, traffic on the I-17 may seem unbearable for motorists. An additional lane in both the northbound and southbound lanes will help “alleviate traffic congestion,” therefore reducing risk among drivers.”We have weekend travelers, we have sometime travelers, we have people that drive it every day. I think the goal is the same: to relieve congestion and increase safety for everybody,” said Joanna Bradley, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s major projects assistant communications director.More:This metro Phoenix city has one of the deadliest rush hours in the US. Here’s whyWhat are flex lanes?The flex lane system will be implemented to reach the project’s ultimate goal of improving safety and reducing congestion for travelers. I-17 will be the first highway in Arizona to implement the flex lane system but Seattle, San Diego and Denver have found success in similar reversible lane systems.”Flex lanes have been proven across the United …
