roads freeways metropolitan phoenix metropolitan area phoenix state arizona contains nation largest fastest growing freeway systems lane miles lack form mass transit bus prior remained automobile dependent city freeway opening year preceding cities freeway openings coupled explosive growth region adequate funding result nation expansive freeway networks backbone phoenix freeway system composed major freeways interstate interstate interstate route california florida heavily traveled freeway valley sun interstate runs center arizona connecting phoenix route spans country controlled access highway freeway short west phoenix travelers cities las_vegas way connection route addition freeways routes loop phoenix respectively state route connects downtown northern reaches city distributor phoenix freeways funded primarily local sales tax dollars federal money newer freeways given state route designation opposed interstate designation primarily phoenix largest city united_states interstate highways digit existing freeways interstate arizona widest freeway entering metropolitan area western edge city freeway continues eastward cities interchange northbound loop following reaches phoenix western city limits approaches downtown level symmetrical stack interchange interstate known locals stack numerous construction projects freeway spanning east westbound road projects expected convert current lane divided freeway lane divided freeway main project complete anticipation completion state route traffic coming phoenix anticipated easier manage stack interstate proceeds eastward tunnel underneath downtown tunnel locally called tunnel located following tunnel reaches interchange turning southward interchange runs adjacent interchange southern terminus second interchange occupies eastern leg freeway presumably named native american tribe regains primary eastward direction crosses meeting turns south enters city interchange located freeway enters final city valley sun loop intersects level symmetrical stack interchange interstate enters continues undeveloped stretch desert phoenix fast growing town making way metropolitan area interstate enters valley north anthem area level interchange loop continues directly southward 27th 25th avenue northern phoenix passing mall heads directly downtown level stack meets interstate immediately northwest downtown stack street segment freeway known highway turns eastward western leg freeway provides southerly bypass downtown meeting near terminating continues eastward designation interstate valley freeway maps showing road built interstate highway standards route segments located southeast near phoenix gateway airport freeway named plan connect entire freeway highway alignment western small portion freeway loop constructed opened rest freeway constructed plans finalized funding available currently study public hearing draft environmental assessment held fall freeway begins mini stack interchange loop proceeds north phoenix known passing near route reaches northern terminus loop freeway known regarded term native american women route freeway native american woman died conflict iraq change controversial residents referring freeway landmark peak route freeway enters valley sun borders crossing east level interchange dubbed motorists interchange completed provides access freeway segments loop continuing westward past interchange freeway passes heart meeting eventually westbound near beginning concurrency phoenix loop freeway loop begins city freeway junction interstate proceeding northward cities loop turns eastward alignment northern section phoenix interchange interstate freeway segment begins freeway remaining eastbound freeway meets northern terminus route continues eastbound turns southward passing northern continues south relatively undeveloped border meets freeways loop level stack located partially create state longest bridge mile total length water price freeway proceeding southward price freeway loop enters encounters junction entering terminating loop originally signed expressway relatively short north south freeway runs east sky harbor international airport loop interstate primary purpose distribute east airport traffic utilizing stop surface streets recently completed project added new directional ramps traffic directed airport southbound destined reconstructed existing loop ramp northbound westbound sky harbor boulevard additional plans upgrade reconstruct portions nearly mile expressway loop begins mini stack junction route interstate heading east route loop intersect points city prior road entering northern reaches temporarily ended power road final segment power road university drive open july freeway continues southward loop freeway early years planning segment east mini stack designated extended proposed alignment routed freeway south road later revisions moved current alignment angle southeasterly 52nd skirt north bank freeway renamed avoiding confusion helping consistently identify future extension freeway freeway segment comprises southern half partial begins heading south town gilbert turning westward near freeway passes interchange southern terminus loop proceeds westward following road alignment meeting current terminus interchange built loop expansion westward mind loop bob memorial parkway relatively new freeway far northwestern area valley serving cities surprise northern phoenix currently segments freeway begins grade interchange stack interchange constructed freeway status continues occasional interchanges lake pleasant parkway planned road second segment freeway begins temporary grand avenue connector road freeway opens total lanes interchange freeway continues way newly completed stack interchange way interchange arterial road mile intervals exception olive avenue interchange construction interchange start late construction interchange start entire segment upgraded lane freeway completed remaining segment ends newly completed stack interchange upgraded freeway standards construction freeway south junction interstate start eventually connect proposed route possibly interstate northern parkway controlled access parkway near luke beginning interchange loop follows butler drive alignment half mile south olive avenue miles turning southeast align northern avenue right current terminus road intended relieve heavy traffic contributed nearby military base plans construction route road including multiple grade separated intersections completely controlled access interchange meet loop construction projected start phase iii run route currently construction dates set cancelled highways paradise parkway proposition removed system december arizona governor funding cuts included removal paradise parkway system entirely freeway added system proposition passed years later route added system february auctioned right way purchased freeway located route arizona state route sky harbor expressway small remnant old northern alignment route beginning expressway headed south interchange airport entrance bridge parallel feet away bridge route expressway ended university avenue planned extension interstate deleted starting western half original alignment right way sky train people phoenix sky harbor international airport extension major highways route grand avenue westbound ends thomas road heads west intersection 27th avenue turns right entering grand avenue diagonal surface street northwestern phoenix metro area continues major street follow grid system phoenix road existed cities heavily developed main transportation hub surprise founded centers main road lane highway connects route southeast passing area currently non freeway segment route connecting phoenix san_diego route traffic bypass urban core phoenix identified state potential alignment corridor arizona future plans include fully upgrading roadway freeway status converting existing grade intersections controlled access intersections preliminary study engineering create freeway freeway interchange interstate near bend way current regional transportation plan include funding improvements beginning work began phased implementation plan upgrade route lane rural highway lane divided highway junction interstate north town construction plan included controlled access intersection improvements junction route bend completed proposed future freeways interstate interstate freeway proposed interstate highway united_states run las_vegas nevada way arizona highway parallel existing north arizona south follow new freeway near turning southeast near interstate terminus intersection proposed near interstate long range vision valley future transportation needs defined interstate approved june 21st century act june joint draft study commissioned respective dots arizona nevada concluded freeway justified citing benefits travel tourism trade economic growth conclusion study way interstate funding implementation proposed east west freeway proposed effort motorists attempt decrease traffic frequently interstate western beginning route run east encounter proposed loop continue end proposed segment construction proposed route freeway approved begin early based funding planning following approval interstate surface transportation act study westward extension conducted expected rapid growth northwestern reaches metropolitan area long term regional highway plans include acquisition right way eventual future expansion controlled access freeway loop planned southerly bypass downtown phoenix cut southern edge neighborhood phoenix begin complete traffic interchange freeway interstate heading west road alignment freeway border turning northwest eventually north follow 55th avenue north terminus interstate west phoenix freeway long considered missing link region planners hope better regional traffic provide better option vehicles avoid metro phoenix march issued selecting build alternative freeway construction begin early boulevard extension project facilitate local access beginning summer freeway planned open traffic late early community opposition exist mainly residents considered building limited access parkway proposed route lane freeway concept ultimately pushed region planners meet traffic needs close cost river indian city phoenix discussed movement alignment tribal land agreements reached currently study phase identifying corridor planned serve expected growth region phoenix metro area future freeway connect freeway passing florence intersecting planned future freeway white tank freeway new long term freeway alignment designed address expected rapid growth far northwest valley surprise northern freeway begin interchange loop surprise run concurrent miles split westward connect planned future alignment freeway interstate west named interchanges features table lists commonly nicknames interchanges portions freeway system funding phoenix expanding highway system voters passed proposition established half cent general sales tax fund new urban freeways currently regional transportation plan time included partially sky harbor expressway route route loop loop completed loop final stage construction voters voted proposition extended half cent sales tax extension passed half additional funding improvements mass transit new freeways defeat funding fiscal year regardless completed passed series bills provided funding long range plan fiscal years freeway segments previously construction commencing immediately funding given accelerate construction passed bill called acceleration plan bill forced assist funds assisted pushing completion forward end transportation tax set revived proposition voters years original vote ended failure proposing identical half cent extension sales tax new proposition extend tax years opposed original unlike predecessor proposition passed wide margin established funding future projects including highways mass transit similar wide reaching proposal enact cent sales tax increase thirty year period statewide level gone funding phoenix area projects failed qualify general election ballot issues petition plan fully completed lingering unfinished segment university avenue power road work wrapped july ramp phoenix freeway system heavily utilizes ramp meters currently installed metropolitan area located loop freeway implementation 1980s goal remained break cars limiting number enter freeway time states successful travel times program january test program begun involved placement travel times popular commuter destinations variable message signs freeway routes morning peak hours routes evening initially signs activated peak travel hours appear urgent message display amber alert emergency late july hours travel times displayed extended travel times displayed weekends logo signing program beginning late phoenix area freeways began receive logo signs select exits advertising food lodging gas attractions businesses program previously restricted rural highways state restriction lifted allowing installation signs phoenix area freeways allowing increased revenue state eventually phoenix area freeway segments planned logo signs installed exits expected complete planned note road westward north interchange east interchange logo signs installed years considered state rural logo sign program freeway segments planned transitioned urban program terms sign
Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix