Where’s Ollie?

[jd1923]

Where's Ollie? She's back home after a couple trips down to the Phoenix Valley lately.

I used to hate the drive, especially towing, the section of I-17 that drops 2000 ft through Black Canyon City AZ. Steep and winding, narrow lanes, rough pothole ridden, sections without shoulders, always construction present, and when there's an accident, you're waiting long without an alternate. When northbound, climbing elevation, note the sign to turn off your A/C when it's hot out. With a 10% climb, there were always cars overheated, parked on the shoulder.

After 2+ years of major construction, the first 40 miles heading north on I-17 is now the greatest road is Arizona. It is now a 6-lane divided highway the whole way with new Flex Lanes in the steepest section. The lanes are now full Interstate width with oversized shoulders all the way. I used to often take an extra half hour to drive up the back route, Hwy 89 through Yarnell. Today, we flew up the mountain, towing 65+ MPH the hole way home!

It's the main route from Phoenix to Prescott, the Verde Valley, Sedona, up to I-40 at Flagstaff and of course the Grand Canyon. Check it out on your next trip to Arizona! 😎

Edited 2 hours ago by jd1923

[johnwen]

Yes...those flex lanes are great.  Went that route about a month ago :)

 

[Mike and Carol]

When our daughter was going to NAU in Flagstaff we made the drive from Sierra Vista up through Tucson on I-10 picking up I-17 in Phoenix.  We’ve been up and down that freeway many times but not since the new construction was finished.  Sounds like an improvement!