Interstate 17 north of Phoenix will soon expand to 3 lanes in both directions

PHOENIX — Drivers using Interstate 17 north of Phoenix may soon notice traffic moving a little more easy due to the addition of two lanes.

Third lanes in both directions of I-17 between Anthem Way and Black Canyon City will officially open Thursday, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Transportation officials hope that adding one extra lane in each direction between Anthem Way and Coldwater Road will reduce congestion.

The lane expansion is part of the I-17 Improvement Plan that ADOT has been working on since 2022.

What is the I-17 Improvement Plan?

The I-17 Improvement Plan is revamping the roadway between Anthem Way and Sunset Point.

The work includes widening 15 miles of roadway, replacing two bridges, widening 10 other bridges and constructing around eight miles of flex lanes.

The flex lanes will be an additional two-lane roadway, located adjacent to the southbound travel lanes and separated by a concrete barrier. The lanes will be open for one direction of traffic at a time, northbound or southbound, which will be dependent on need.

Once the flex lanes are completed, they will be operational seven days a week.

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