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TRAVEL
I-17 rest area north of Anthem to close this week
Posted
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
The Sunset Point rest area north of Anthem along Interstate 17 will close to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Crews have been working at the rest area since July, but state transportation officials held off closing the facility until after the summer travel season.
During the closure, commercial truck drivers will be allowed to continue using Sunset Point to park their vehicles and get some rest, officials said. Although facilities will be limited, portable restrooms and handwashing stations will be provided for commercial drivers to use.
A temporary rest area will be available for use by passenger vehicles and non-commercial trucks at the Badger Springs Road exit on I-17, 4 miles north of Sunset Point.
The temporary facility will have parking, portable restrooms and handwashing stations, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. It will not be able to accommodate commercial vehicles, oversize loads, large RVs and vehicles with trailers.
Motorists with those types of vehicles may use Sunset Point, if necessary, but are encouraged to use other nearby private facilities, officials said.
The rest area will be located on the east side of I-17 and can be reached by northbound and southbound traffic at Exit 256. Drivers can also use facilities in other areas, including Black Canyon City, which is about 10 miles south of the rest area, and Cordes Junction, which is 10 miles to the north.
According to ADOT, the long-planned renovation of Sunset Point is unrelated to the I-17 Improvement Project, which will expand and improve travel lanes on I-17 south of Sunset Point to Anthem Way.
The rest area renovation project will upgrade the water and septic systems as well as the restrooms and vending areas. Truck parking will also be expanded, and there wil be improvements to make the rest area more accessible for people with disabilities.
Other improvements to be made to the Sunset Point rest area include renovation of covered ramadas and upgrading sidewalks, lighting and signage.
Crews also will work to renovate a sundial memorial honoring ADOT highway workers who have died in the line of duty.
The $7.5 million project is expected to be completed before the 2023 summer travel season.
