From Flagstaff’s Fourth Street Widening to Critical Highway I-17 Expansion

From Flagstaff’s Fourth Street Widening to Critical Highway I-17 Expansion

Recent announcements from local and state governments on major Arizona transportation infrastructure improvements have been very good for Flagstaff residents and businesses according to Chamber President & CEO, Julie Pastrick. “It’s very nice when advocacy efforts pay off, and they are paying off in spades at the moment,” Pastrick stated when asked about recently announced projects. “We have been at this for a long time, and we know these road improvements will very much build a better future for Flagstaff. I-17 is a critical highway connecting Flagstaff to the Valley and safely arriving at our destinations whether for business, tourism, NAU students, or day to day mobility(without delays) will be greatly improved and will definitely benefit communities north of Phoenix. The improvements Chamber President/ CEO Pastrick refers to include widening I-17 to three lanes along a 15 mile stretch between Anthem and Black Canyon City and also building an 8-mile stretch system of flex lanes on the grade between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. The flex lanes will operate as a separate two-lane roadway for one direction of traffic at a time depending on the need along those steep 8 miles. The project is set to begin by spring 2021 and completion is expected by 2023. In total the significant improvement projects will cost more than $300 million and with enhanced safety and reduced congestion, what a huge economic impact we are about to see for Flagstaff," Pastrick finished. Our local Fourth Street widening comes after many years of advocacy by the Chamber together with the City of Flagstaff and ADOT, who both upped the ante and made funding for this particular project a priority. The construction project will begin in spring 2020, and will cost over $12 million, partially funded by the City of Flagstaff and ADOT monies received via federal grants. The Chamber sent several formal support letters for the project to the U.S. Department of Transportation in an effort to dislodge federal BUILD Grant dollars essential to accelerating the start of the project. Highway I-17 expansion funding was a Governor Ducey priority in the 2019- 2020 Arizona budget to the tune of $130 million; with support from Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Martha McSally and others, ADOT won a competitive $90 million infrastructure grant for building America (INFRA) which goes towards this project; Maricopa Association of Governments is investing $50 million in the widening; and so it goes. State, local and Federal partnerships are the core of how transportation infrastructure gets improved. We all know that both of these roadways will enhance our quality of life in the High Country. Chamber President Julie Pastrick, back row center, was asked to attend Governor Ducey's press conference about improved safety and reduced congestion on I-17