The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recently started construction on improvements to State Routes 24 and 30, kicking off the next stage in the expansion of the freeway system in the Metro Phoenix area to alleviate chronic congestion and enhance mobility across one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation. 

According to AZCentral, construction on SR 30 - a long-awaited parallel route to I-10 will offer a key east-west alternative route from Loop 202 to Loop 303. At the same time, the improvements to SR 24 will extend that highway further east into Pinal County to help support the tremendous growth of new residential and commercial development.

The twin freeway projects are identified among the key infrastructure improvements for Arizona in 2025 and will coincide with the completion of the Broadway Curve improvements on Interstate 10 in 2023 to increase lane capacity and reduce congestion for vehicles traveling near downtown Phoenix. 

The projects will add to Arizona's commitment to build upon its highway system, which is facing high demand. Earlier this year, a report explained that the state will spend over $1 billion on additional widening and modernization throughout the region.

At the same time, many local jurisdictions are amending their policy frameworks to support infrastructure investment that aims to incorporate more resilient urban planning. The City of Phoenix also updated its Building Construction Code in 2024, intending to encourage safe and smart growth with more energy-efficient design, better safety measures, and future-oriented tenets for commercial and residential property development. 

City-level road improvement projects are also underway. According to KTAR, Scottsdale's Thomas Road project will create multi-modal enhancements, in addition to bringing safety improvements to an important corridor for commuters and local businesses.

These highway extensions and code changes above are part of the state’s attempts to respond to the challenges presented by Metro Phoenix’s population explosion. The region has gained hundreds of thousands of new residents over the last ten years and currently expects an additional 1.5 million residents by 2040. The state’s actions echo other regional efforts around the nation. 

For example, in the Midwest, Missouri and Kansas are now moving their own I-70 corridor improvements in an attempt to address freight and commuter congestion, further denoting a national pattern of reinvestment in older roadway networks. According to ADOT officials, the estimated time of completion for the SR 24 and SR 30 projects is several years. 

Once completed, the projects will provide significant relief for commuters as well as achieve the region's overall transportation and economic objectives over the long term.