Arizona approves five-year transportation program

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The Arizona State Transportation Board recently approved the 2024-2028 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.

The program includes more than $9 billion in transportation investments to expand and improve pavement on multiple highways. Funding includes $2.6 billion for bridge preservation projects, and $469 million for projects that improve highway safety, efficiency and functionality.

The vehicle license tax and gasoline and diesel fuel taxes primarily fund the program. Maricopa and Pima counties have independent revenue from sales taxes.

The program expands on $50.5 million in pavement repair projects underway or starting this summer.

The state Legislature and Gov. Kathleen Hobbs also allocated $54 million for additional pavement improvement projects in rural areas.

The Arizona Department of Transportation, local governments and regional transportation planning organizations prioritized projects that are ready to build or design. Public input also was considered.

More than $1 billion for the widening of Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande. Phase one, the Gila River Bridge project, will begin later this year. The state plans to widening I-10 to three lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Tucson.

A total of $263.9 million to widen and improve US 93 between Wickenburg and I-40 in Kingman. Work will be conducted between 2024 and 2027.