There is now an additional lane for drivers exiting northbound Interstate 17 to Loop 303 and Sonoran Desert Drive in north Phoenix. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced the opening as part of a ramp widening project aimed at reducing congestion, particularly during afternoon rush hours.
Crews completed lane striping at the Loop 303 exit last night, and temporary work zone barriers were removed earlier in the week. The project cost $1.3 million and is being completed ahead of a larger effort set to begin next year. That upcoming project will add direct freeway-to-freeway ramps at the I-17/Loop 303 interchange and widen Loop 303 between I-17 and 51st Avenue.
This future construction marks the first project funded under Proposition 479, which was approved by Maricopa County voters and is managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). Proposition 479 provides funding through a regional half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvements in metro Phoenix.
ADOT stated, “The new exit lane is designed to ease traffic backups, especially during afternoon rush hours.”
Drivers can check real-time highway conditions on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at https://az511.gov or via the AZ511 app for Apple and Android devices. Updates are also available through ADOT’s X/Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.
