Northern Arizona will see completion of several major transportation projects in 2026, including a new wildlife overpass on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff designed to reduce crashes involving large animals.
Construction on the I-17 wildlife overpass is scheduled to resume this spring following a winter shutdown. The project, which began last May near Willard Springs Road about 12 miles south of Flagstaff, includes a 100-foot-wide overpass, eight miles of new wildlife fencing, and native vegetation plantings. The $15.8 million project is a partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Game and Fish Department and is designed to reduce collisions involving elk, deer and other wildlife. Completion is expected in fall 2026.
Also beginning in 2026, ADOT plans to start the $109 million State Route 260 Lion Springs widening project east of Payson. The four-mile segment between mileposts 256 and 260 is the final two-lane section between Payson and the Mogollon Rim to be widened to four lanes. The project will also include wildlife crossings and is scheduled for completion in 2029.
In Kingman, work continues on the $106 million Interstate 40/US 93 interchange project, which is more than halfway complete. The free-flowing interchange is designed to eliminate backups and delays on the main route between Arizona and Las Vegas by allowing traffic to bypass the Beale Street signalized intersection. The interchange is expected to open in 2027.
ADOT also expects to open a new $44 million I-40 interchange at Rancho Santa Fe Parkway in mid-2026. The interchange will improve access to the Kingman Airport and adjacent airpark and support growth in east Kingman.
On US 93, a four-mile widening project at Cane Springs north of Wikieup will increase capacity between mileposts 106 and 110 by converting the highway into a four-lane divided roadway. The $80.6 million project is part of ADOT’s long-term vision to widen the entire 200-mile corridor between Wickenburg and Nevada.
Additional US 93 improvements scheduled in ADOT’s 2026–2030 Five-Year Construction Program include:
- FY 2026: Mileposts 190 to 194.6 northwest of Wickenburg
- FY 2027: Mileposts 161.7 to 166.2 near Big Jim Wash
- 2026: New passing lanes between mileposts 171.5–173 and 175.5–177
Other Northern Arizona projects scheduled to wrap up in 2026 include resurfacing State Route 87 through Payson between Green Valley Parkway and Crackerjack Road. The two-year, $19.8 million project includes pavement replacement, drainage improvements, updated signage and traffic signal upgrades.
Drivers traveling to and from Northern Arizona will also benefit from continued work east of Superior on US 60, where ADOT is replacing the Queen Creek and Waterfall Canyon bridges between mileposts 227 and 229.5.
For a full list of statewide transportation projects, visit azdot.gov/projects.
