What is the construction? The southeast Valley's gateway freeway will soon undergo upgrades to expand traffic capacity.
State Route 24 is the only freeway that connects places like Queen Creek and San Tan Valley to the rest of metro Phoenix. The two suburbs have been among the fastest growing cities in the nation with Queen Creek adding 30,000 residents in five years.
That explosive growth has hastened the need for improvements to the four-lane interim freeway.
The about $420 million project will include:
- Adding two lanes in each direction between Loop 202 and Williams Field Road
- Adding one lane in each direction between Williams Field Road and Ironwood Drive
- Building bridges over Williams Field, Crismon, Signal Butte and Meridian roads to separate SR 24 from cross street traffic
- Reconstructing the Ironwood Drive interchange
- Adding an additional lane on eastbound and westbound Loop 202 near SR 24 in certain locations
- Constructing new connector ramps between Ellsworth Road and Loop 202 in both directions
This project does not include the potential future SR 24 extension from Ironwood Drive to U.S. 60. The $165 million extension is currently in the design phase, but funding for the project remains in limbo.
Where is the construction? Construction
on SR 24 will stretch between the Loop 202 interchange and Ironwood Drive. Loop 202 will also see construction from Recker Road to Guadalupe Road.
How many drivers will be affected? SR 24 carries around 63,000 drivers daily on average. By 2045, that is expected to balloon to between 79,000 and 89,000 drivers.
How long will construction take? Construction is expected to break ground in late 2026 or early 2027 and will last until mid-2029.
Will there be closures? Closures are expected but have not been announced. Check az511.gov or the AZ511 app for minute-by-minute closures and restrictions.
Curious about construction on your commute? Let us know. Reach reporter Lauren De Young at ldeyoung@azcentral.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When will State Route 24 finally be widened?
