Work is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024 on the upgrading of the much-used Agua Fria Freeway in metro Phoenix.
As undertaken by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the project is listed as one of the half dozen or so major road projects in and around Phoenix and will see work on the stretch of highway between Interstate 17 and 75th Avenue.
Located in the West Valley, the Agua Fria Freeway is a part of the semi-beltway route looping around metro Phoenix and otherwise known as Loop 101.
The vital throughway connects Phoenix with the cities of Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa, and Chandler, among other localities.
The Agua Fria work will see the building of an additional lane in both directions, the widening of three bridges, and modification of interchange ramps and retaining walls.
Exit ramps along the route will also be widened to two lanes, along with reconstructed ramp connections.
According to the ADOT, the $108 million project is designed to address growing traffic demands, while also relieving congestion during the morning and early evening peak travel periods.
Work on what is officially called the Loop 101 Improvement Project is expected to be completed sometime in 2026.
All new highway projects in metro Phoenix are the result of a jump in the area’s population from 2.9 million residents in the year 2000 to just under 4.8 million this year.
By Garry Boulard
