By Brent Ruffner | Your Valley
Traffic and water use were among the concerns of more than 100 residents who packed into an elementary school gymnasium in Black Canyon City Tuesday evening to hear Arizona Department of Transportation officials talk about a major Interstate 17 improvement project.
The project, along a 23-mile stretch of the route north of Phoenix, will widen roads and add additional lanes to improve capacity and reduce congestion from Anthem Way north to the Sunset Point Rest Area. Project construction is expected to last three years — from 2022 to 2025.
The improvements are expected to widen 15 miles of road, replacing two bridges and widening 10 others while constructing 8 miles of a new “flex” lane system.
The flex lanes will be open to northbound or southbound traffic — depending on the peak traffic direction and the greatest need. Barriers for the flex lanes can be controlled remotely and will be separated from the southbound road by a concrete barrier.
