ADOT begins project to bring broadband internet to rural Arizona communities
Oct 13, 2021, 4:00 PM | Updated: Oct 14, 2021, 8:10 am
Interstate 17 near Munds Park (ADOT Photo)
(ADOT Photo)
PHOENIX — A new Arizona Department of Transportation project is underway to deliver broadband internet access to rural communities.
The project began Tuesday with crews laying a fiber-optic conduit along a 46-mile stretch of Interstate 17 from Flagstaff to Sedona.
When complete, installations will run from I-17 between milepost 340 in Flagstaff to milepost 296, south of the junction with State Route 179.
While the project is in motion, drivers can expect right-lane restrictions along southbound I-17 where crews will be working.
Crews plan to make 3-mile fiber-optic conduit installations at a time.
ADOT also plans to use the fiber to install overhead message boards, traffic cameras, weather stations and wrong-way driving detection technology.
There are no scheduled restrictions on weekends and holidays.
The project is expected to be completed by summer of 2022.
ADOT partnered with the Arizona Commerce Authority to build more affordable opportunities to provide rural communities with high-speed service. The role ADOT has is to give access to its right-of-way along four main interstates in Arizona.
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