Thanks to the funding approval for an additional lane on the Loop 101 Pima Freeway in both directions between Phoenix’s Interstate 17 and Scottsdale’s Pima Road, life will be made easier for north Valley commuters.

The funding was approved by the regional planning agency for metro Phoenix after the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council voted last week to advance to the next phase of the $225.5 million plan.

“In addition to the lanes they’ll also do some auxiliary lane improvements, some technological improvements to push traffic a little faster, a little easier,” John Bullen, transportation, economic and finance manager for MAG.

Also included in the plan are drainage upgrades and the addition of a rubberized asphalt overlay that will make the roads quieter. 

Expected to begin in March 2019 and last two years, the project will address bottleneck issues at four different areas on the 101. 

With the economy having seen a boost over the past five to six years, so has the volume of traffic in the area.

“Our transportation model with all the job growth in the area and just increased commuters, we’ve really identified this as a corridor that we need to improve,” Bullen said. “We need to add lanes and be able to facilitate that additional capacity.”