Assigned to APPROP & TRANS                                                                                                    FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Forty-seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1504

appropriations; interstate 17 highway expansion

Purpose

            Appropriates $75 million annually in FYs 2006-2007 through 2011-2012 to widen Interstate 17 (I-17) between the Carefree Highway and Black Canyon City.

Background

I-17, known as the Black Canyon Freeway in the Phoenix metropolitan area, connects    I-10 with I-40, two of the nation's principal east-west interstate highways. The North Black Canyon Area is expected to grow by more than 100,000 persons as new developments are constructed in what is now mostly open desert north of State Route (SR) 101L. The existing I-17 mainline consists of two lanes in each direction and dates back to the 1940s, with structures from approximately 10 to 53 years old.  There are 12 crossroad interchanges from SR 101L to Black Canyon City, as well as discontinuous frontage roads.

            Beginning in 1999, ADOT began an investigation to add capacity and improve traffic operations at the Carefree Traffic Interchange (TI). Those improvements were studied concurrently with other improvements to I-17 from SR 101L to Black Canyon City. Several TI improvement concepts were developed and evaluated; the results were presented to the public and to local, state and federal agency representatives between 2000 and 2003. The project is in the final design stage and construction will begin in 2007 for the section from L101 to SR 74 (Carefree Highway). The northern portion between Carefree Highway and Anthem is programmed for construction in 2023. Construction for the section between Anthem and New River is programmed in 2024.

The total fiscal impact over the course of the project is $450 million from the state General Fund.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $75 million from the state General Fund in FYs 2006-2007 through FY 2011-2012 to ADOT to widen I-17 from the Carefree Highway to Black Canyon City to add an additional lane in each direction.

2. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.

3. Becomes effective on the general effective date. 

Prepared by Senate Research

February 10, 2006

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