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Interstate 17 begins near Sky Harbor Airport
at Interstate 10, and travels west and north around downtown
Phoenix, forming the west and south legs of the "inner
loop". After crossing Interstate 10 again at the Stack
interchange, the freeway heads due north roughly along 25th
Avenue, transitioning to a 27th Avenue alignment at Dunlap
Avenue. The freeway heads due north, meeting Loop 101 and
Arizona 74 as it continues toward the suburb of Anthem.
After leaving Anthem, Interstate 17 finally leaves the Phoenix
Metropolitan Area, reaching the towns of New River and Black
Canyon City before leaving the low desert to climb quickly
up to Black Mesa, passing through the ghost town of Bumble
Bee. At the edge of the mesa is the Sunset Point rest area.
The road stays fairly level at around 3500 feet elevation
until passing Cordes Junction, where Arizona 69 branches off.
Leaving Cordes Junction, Interstate 17 travels north and
drops down into the Verde Valley to reach the town of Camp
Verde. Leaving Camp Verde, Interstate 17 passes the road to
Montezuma Castle National Monument and Montezuma Well National
Monument, and meets Arizona 179 to Sedona.
Passing Arizona 179, Interstate 17 starts climbing again
in earnest, to reach 6500 feet in elevation at Munds Park.
After passing Flagstaff Airport, Interstate 17 reaches Interstate
40 just south of Flagstaff.
Interstate 17 between Interstate 10 (24th Street) and the
Durango Curve (22nd Avenue) was originally part of Interstate
10, but added to Interstate 17 when Interstate 10 was realigned.
From Cordes Junction to Flagstaff, significant portions of
Interstate 17 were originally constructed as a two-lane Interstate
highway, with the other two lanes added later. The entire
freeway was completed by 1978.
The mileposts on Interstate 17 begin at Milepost 194. Interstate
17's mileposts came from Arizona 69, which began at mile 201
of U.S. 89 originally (where the Grand Avenue overpass of
Interstate 17 is today). Since Interstate 19's mileposts also
correspond to U.S. 89, it has led to some speculation that
Interstate 17 and 19 were supposed to be one freeway, which
has never been in state highway system plans.
Interstate 17 sign being mounted, 1965. (Courtesy Phoenix Public Library Archives) |
Construction History
- 1965: Miles 194-195 (I-10 interchange to 16th street,
reconstructed 1988)
- 1963: Miles 195-201 (16th Street to Grand Avenue)
- 1958: Miles 201-202 (Grand Avenue to Thomas Road)
- 1960: Miles 202-205 (Thomas Road to Glendale Road)
- 1961: Miles 205-207 (Glendale Road to Dunlap Avenue)
- 1965: Miles 207-219 (Dunlap Avenue to Skunk Creek)
- 1964: Miles 219-224 (Skunk Creek to Carefree Hwy/Arizona
74)
- 1967: Miles 224-232 (Carefree Hwy/Arizona 74 to South
of New River)
- 1968: Miles 232-237 (New Rier Bridge and Bypass)
- 1967: Miles 237-243 (North of New River to Black Canyon
City)
- 1964: Miles 243-246 (Black Canyon City bypass)
- 1968: Miles 246-253 (Black Canyon City to Sunset Point)
- 1964: Miles 253-269 (Sunset Point to Dugas Rd/Orme Rd)
- 1971: Miles 269-279 (Dugas/Orme Rd to Arizona 169)
- 1978: Miles 279-293 (Arizona 169 to Cornville Road)
- 1966: Miles 293-340 (Cornville Road to Interstate 40,
constructed from Mile 298-337 as two lane freeway)
- 1974: Miles 298-312 (Converted to four lanes)
- 1976: Miles 312-337 (Converted to four lanes)
Dates noted are dates that the sections opened. In the case of the freeway north of Thomas Road, this is when Arizona 69 was turned into a limited access freeway.
The section from Miles 293-340 was constructed as Arizona 79, and converted to a limited access highway before completion. The majority of this section (miles 298-337) was constructed as a "super two" (one lane each direction) limited access freeway. Dates are included for when the additional lanes were added to the freeway.
Business Loops
I-17 has one decommissioned business loop.
- Black Canyon City - former Arizona 69.
Interstate 17 Highway Guides
Page Updated May 12, 2007.
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