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North Phoenix Roads to Undergo Major Changes

Say hello to more road work, North Phoenix locals. Arizona Department of Transportation has announced plans for new, revolutionary remodels of the I-17 interchanges at Happy Valley and Pinnacle Peak Roads.

ADOT’s plans include rebuilding two of North Phoenix’s most complex interchanges, widening the roadways, and implementing a new interchange system at Happy Valley called a “diverging diamond traffic interchange,” also known as DDI.

The project is projected to cost $49 million and will have a major impact on the flow of traffic by expediting travel times via additional lanes. I-17 will be widened by an extra lane in each direction, resulting in 5 lanes on either side. Both interchanges will also receive new bridges to be built over I-17, allowing for an additional future sixth lane to be built if necessary.


The DDI to be constructed at the Happy Valley interchange is expected to have extremely positive results on overall driver safety, with the Federal Highway Administration stating that “Compared to a conventional diamond interchange, the DDI reduces vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points by nearly 50 percent and eliminates many of the most severe crash types”.

The FHA and ADOT also both state that DDI’s cut down on the possibility of wrong-way driving, a growing problem that has plagued the metro area for some time now.

Design work for the project is already underway and making steady progress. Construction on the interchanges is expected to break ground next fall and to conclude some time in 2020. The construction is not expected to impede regular travel by much, with a majority of the work being conducted “while the existing interchange is still in use,” ADOT spokesperson Doug Nintzel stated.

The initial development may cause some travel headaches for locals, but with the expected outcome of increased travel efficiency and traveller safety, it will be a small price to pay.