The Arizona Department of Transportation has announced, in a press release on Monday, a significant shift in traffic patterns to facilitate the ongoing I-17 Improvement Project. This $300+ million endeavor is slated to finish by the year's end and promises to make this key Arizona corridor more efficient and flexible.
Starting Monday, travelers bound north will be rerouted into two new flex lanes adjoining the southbound lanes, from Coldwater Road to Sunset Point. While being rolled out as a detour, these lanes represent a piece of the project aimed at creating more adaptable traffic management. However, with the northbound general purpose lanes currently under the knife for improvement, especially between Coldwater Road and Sunset Point, which includes bridge work at Bumble Bee Road, commuters will have to adapt to this temporary arrangement.
During this shift, northbound access to Bumble Bee Road will be unavailable, and the underpass beneath will be closed for the time being. Even though the emergency responders' routes will stay intact, regular drivers should expect detours. ADOT's website specifies the closure and assures ongoing access for emergency services.
There's no change for southbound I-17 voyagers, while those heading north should be ready to downshift for several weeks at a lower speed limit. Signs posted will guide through the 23-mile work zone, indicating a reduced speed from the usual 75 to a cautious 65 mph, dipping to 55 mph at certain stretches.
Meanwhile, construction troops are also working to expand the highway further south between Anthem Way and Black Canyon City, aiming to finish by spring. That leg of the project has added an extra lane in each direction, "to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow," as stated in ADOT's press release.
For those interested in detailed updates or curious about what compliance with flex lane operation will look like, a visit to ADOT's project website is a click away.
