Project Funding in Voter’s Hands on November Ballot
The Arizona Department of Transportation is in the midst of designing a number of freeway improvements to alleviate congestion and accommodate future traffic in the growing I-17 corridor near the TSMC chip factory, but project funding ultimately depends on voter approval in November.
In a virtual meeting last month, ADOT revealed a look at its plans for the I-17 and Loop 303 interchange improvements, along with widening Loop 303 between I-17 and Lake Pleasant Parkway.
Loop 303 improvements include adding a third general purpose lane in each direction between I-17 and Lake Pleasant, bridge construction over 67th Avenue to accommodate a future traffic interchange and a new I-17/Loop 303 system interchange.
The project is still in the design phase, and early estimates show the cost at roughly $200 million. The project’s fate hinges on the successful passage of Proposition 479, which will be on the ballot for Maricopa County voters in the November general election. Prop 479 is the continuation of an existing, dedicated half-cent sales tax in Maricopa County to fund transportation.
ADOT said when Loop 303 opened in 2011, its two lanes in each direction was an interim solution to the overall vision and plan for four general purpose lanes and one HOV lane in each direction.
Direct Connections to I-17
Under the new design, traffic to and from I-17 from Loop 303 will no longer be routed through the Sonoran Desert Drive interchange.
Loop 303 users will be able to connect to Northbound I-17 with a new ramp that will pass under the existing I-17 and the existing Loop 303 frontage road. The ramp will be constructed to accommodate two lanes in the future but likely open in a single lane configuration and the second lane will open depending on traffic volumes.
Loop 303 users will be able to directly access I-17 South via a new ramp that will pass over the existing Loop 303 Frontage Road. The ramp will be constructed to accommodate two lanes, and both lanes will be opened based on projected traffic volumes.
Southbound I-17 users will be able to directly access Southbound Loop 303 using a new ramp that will pass over Loop 303 Frontage Road will be two lanes, but will open as a single lane at first.
Northbound I-17 will directly access Loop 303 Southbound using a new ramp that will pass directly over the existing Sonoran Desert Drive interchange and I-17. This ramp will be constructed to accommodate two lanes and both will be opened at completion.
Another planned improvement is to widen the I-17 northbound ramp to Sonoran Desert Drive. ADOT recently completed a temp improvement to help address the queuing during peak travel times, but this funding will allow for two lanes to simultaneously exit Northbound I-17.
By Karen Goveia