Arizona transportation officials recently lowered the speed limit to 65 mph on a stretch of Interstate 17 undergoing major work.
State troopers are also upping patrols of the highway improvement project between Anthem Way and Sunset Point.
State transportation officials say crews are making significant progress on the project to widen and add flex lanes to an often congested part of I-17 north of Phoenix.
Controlled rock blasting and earthwork will continue through much of the year as 1.7 million cubic yards are shaved from mountainsides. The project manager says that material will be crushed and used to build new lanes.
Another major part of the project underway is bridge work. Ten bridges have to be widened and three replaced.
Officials predict the entire project will be done in 2025.
