Driving I-17 scary and potentially unsafe :shocked: (Phoenix, Gilbert: construction, gated)

[Champ le monstre du lac]

OK so on vacation I was driving I-17 from Phoenix on up to Flagstaff. The scenery is very remarkable as is the change in topography and gain in elevation in a relatively short amount of distance. This interstate has some serious mountain climbing. So why does it not have climbing lanes for trucks? Often it seems it can be difficult to cruise at or near speed limit or even a little bit above as the right lane is clogged with big rigs with hazards on doing 50 mph and the passing lane has idiots racing at 85 mph making it hard to move over and having to use the brakes on short notice. Has the AZDOT ever thought about constructing third climbing lanes on the steep inclines to make driving safer on I-17?

[wit-nit]

In that short area you speak of it says all along the roadway that slow vehicles keep right, so there's no need for a 3rd lane. A 3rd lane there would involve closing down the freeway, blasting a large section of the mountain out and huge delays for years of expensive construction time.
It may be a minor inconvenience for some drivers, I've driven that section over a 1000 times with no problems. Years ago it was only one lane curvy roads to and from Flagstaff, you're lucky today with the improved highway.

[Scottay]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

Has the AZDOT ever thought about constructing third climbing lanes on the steep inclines to make driving safer on I-17?

It would be an extremely expensive project that ADOT just cannot afford.

[Pink Jazz]

If you think I-17 is dangerous, then you haven't seen SR 87 through Payson. Very treacherous in the winter. We live in Gilbert, and this is a quicker route to drive to Albuquerque from where we live, however, in the winter we generally avoid it due to the icy roads, as AZ 87 isn't as frequently deiced as I-17.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by Scottay

It would be an extremely expensive project that ADOT just cannot afford.

It's not as if it hasn't been done before on interstate highways in mountain passes in other states. I-90 from Seattle burbs all the way on up through Snoqualmie Pass has three lanes each direction traversing some very challenging terrain.

[Searcher521]

There are only a couple of short stretches of I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff that you see this problem. Climbing out Phoenix is probably the one of concern but it isn't really that big a deal. Either you can climb at a reasonable speed and you position yourself or that or you might end up crawling with the slower vehicles. Knowing the road you can be prepared for how you are going to take it. To a lesser degree climbing south out of Campverde can be a little like that.

I used to drive that in my underpowered Nissan pickup with standard transmission and enjoyed the technical challenge of trying to stay in the right place on the power curve. People can't do 85 in the passing lane if you are in front of them doing the speed limit and no you aren't obligated to pull over behind the truck managing 25 so somebody can pass.

I believe the most dangerous part is decending the heights into Phoenix with the rest of the people returning to Phoenix after a weekend up north. I do not like lane changes through the turns coming down that hill but have never seen any accidents.

[CodyW]

I-17 will eventually be widened to three lanes.. it'll just take time. You can see it in all of the bridge reconstruction projects lately - the bridges are all extra wide. Wide enough to accommodate a third lane.

However, I think this has more to do with increasing traffic volume than providing a climbing lane. Can get pretty busy during certain days.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by CodyW

I-17 will eventually be widened to three lanes.. it'll just take time. You can see it in all of the bridge reconstruction projects lately - the bridges are all extra wide. Wide enough to accommodate a third lane.

However, I think this has more to do with increasing traffic volume than providing a climbing lane. Can get pretty busy during certain days.

I figured that, Arizona's population is growing so quickly it would only be a matter of time.

[curly5759]

Originally Posted by CodyW

I-17 will eventually be widened to three lanes.. it'll just take time. You can see it in all of the bridge reconstruction projects lately - the bridges are all extra wide. Wide enough to accommodate a third lane.

However, I think this has more to do with increasing traffic volume than providing a climbing lane. Can get pretty busy during certain days.

The widening project has already started on the Camp Verde/Copper canyon section.

Curly

[wit-nit]

ADOT schedule of I-17 improvements north of Phoenix up to year 2030:
Interstate 17 (Black Canyon Freeway) ~ Planned Improvements

There is no mention of widening the area(s) OP has posted about.