The Arizona Department of Transportation managed construction of the $38 million drainage system on behalf of the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Valley’s metropolitan planning organization. (Arizona Department of Transportation photo)

A new I-17 regional drainage system designed to reduce the risk of stormwater flooding in underpasses between Peoria Avenue and Greenway Road in Phoenix is ready to operate .

The Arizona Department of Transportation managed construction of the $38 million drainage system on behalf of the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Valley's metropolitan planning organization. Crews installed new pipelines for the gravity controlled system and built large stormwater retention basins near Thunderbird Road.

The new system also allowed ADOT to remove outdated pump stations, installed back in 1964, near lower-lying underpasses carrying Peoria Avenue and Cactus, Thunderbird and Greenway roads beneath I-17. Those underpasses have been subject to flooding during periods of heavy rain and the new drainage system is designed to limit such events.

Primary work on the new system started in spring 2020. Construction involved extensive trench work as well as tunneling under I-17 for some pipeline installation. Angled pipelines will now move stormwater into retention basins or the Arizona Canal Diversion Channel north of Dunlap Avenue.

Although the upgrades are designed to reduce the potential for flooding, a large amount of rain in a short period of time can tax any drainage system, be it on state highways or local roads. Drivers should proceed with caution when storms hit and avoid driving into areas with standing or moving water.

ADOT plans and constructs new freeways, additional lanes and other improvements in the Phoenix area as part of the Regional Transportation Plan for the Maricopa County region. Most projects are funded in part by Proposition 400, a dedicated sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

Today's top stories

Construction Begins on Manhattan's $10B Midtown Bus Terminal Transformation

NDDOT, Partners Officially Kick Off Construction Season

MHTC Selects Radmacher-Ideker JV for MoDOT's Third Improve I-70 Project

Baltimore's Morgan State University Begins Construction on New $337M Science Center

Premier Installs Door System at Farm-Rite Equipment

Chairman Walberg Visits AED Member Buck & Knobby Equipment Company

BOMAG Americas Appoints Tom Schanz as Sales Director for Eastern Dealer Channel

Downtown Boston Construction Will Create New England's First Holocaust Museum