I-17 Widening Project Beginning Soon

Mike Fann, owner of Fann Contracting, studies the aerial maps of the Interstate 17 improvement project scheduled to begin in April or May. The $446 million project is designed to provide more flexibility and reduce traffic delays on 23 miles of the major route between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Photo by Ray Newton

Interstate 17 Improvement Project to Begin this Spring

By Ray Newton, FBN

Those who frequently travel Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff understand the frustration of being held up in traffic, sometimes for hours, because of an accident, weather, a wildfire or other situation. However, those delays may be resolved in about three years.

Following several years of environmental and design studies, the Arizona Department of Transportation has approved a $446 million project to improve I-17 between Sunset Point on the north to Anthem Way traffic interchange on the south.

The 23-mile improvement project is expected to begin in April or May.

The contract has been awarded to Fann Contracting in Prescott and co-developer Kiewit Engineering Group Inc., one of North America’s largest engineering and construction organizations. The developer team will go by the acronym KFJV, for Kiewit-Fann Joint Venture team. Several other sub-contractors are also part of the contract.

The interstate to be improved is in mountainous terrain in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties.

I-17 is viewed as the primary connection between Flagstaff and Interstate 40 (I-40), which runs east and west in the north, and Interstate 10 (I-10) in Phoenix, which also runs east and west.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the I-17 link between two of the nation’s principal east-west highways is critical because it carries well over a million travelers each year. It is the most important highway between the greater metropolitan Phoenix area and communities in Northern Arizona.

FANN CONTRACTING EAGER TO BEGIN

once begun, construction will be carried out simultaneously along all 23 miles of I-17.

He emphasized that rarely would there be traffic delays or stoppage while construction is underway.

“The only time we expect we will have any traffic delay at all because of construction is when we have to blast,” he said. “As soon as that action is taken and we have assurance that no safety issues are involved, traffic will be moving again.”

The project includes widening 15 miles of four-lane highway, replacing two bridges and one bridge deck, widening 10 bridges, and the creation of eight miles of what are being called “flex lanes.”

In cooperation with ADOT, it was determined the I-17 flex lanes will operate as separate two-lane roads that carry one direction of traffic at a time in either a north or south direction.

“The flow of traffic will be determined by what is the greatest need at the time along that winding eight miles of mountain driving between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point,” Fann said.

For example, flex lanes will be able to carry major northbound traffic on a Friday or Saturday, but on a Sunday, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to take southbound traffic to Phoenix.

‘’You need to know that the flex lanes will be next to, but separated with concrete barriers, from the southbound I-17 lanes. Access to flex lanes will be controlled by carefully monitored gates,” said Fann. “My company has the responsibility of monitoring those gates for three years after the construction is completed. Believe me, that is a responsibility we will take very seriously. Public safety is involved.”

The concept of flex lanes is fairly new, and is one that has been endorsed by ADOT.

Because so much traffic congestion occurs on weekends, the KFJV team is developing procedures to limit most lane delays for con-