The Arizona Department of Transportation today released a draft of the next five-year construction plan, which continues to show funding for widening State Route 347 as the project moves toward a summer start.

The draft plan outlines highway spending from 2027 through 2031 and sets aside $86 million for SR 347 improvements in Pinal County. It also opens a public comment period that runs through May 22 before the Arizona State Transportation Board votes on final approval June 19.

For Maricopa, the update lands after a year of public pressure that reshaped the state’s construction schedule.

Local leaders and residents traveled to transportation board meetings across Arizona to argue the widening should move ahead of competing highway projects. Pinal County, spearheaded by Supervisor Rich Vitiello (R-Maricopa) pledged $20 million toward the effort. The Maricopa City Council approved a local sales tax increase and authorized agreements to ensure city funds would be dedicated to the corridor.

Board members publicly debated delaying other expansions to make room for SR 347 within limited capacity funding before ultimately voting to add the widening to the state’s five-year program.

In the months that followed, questions surfaced online about whether the project had slipped to 2031. Transportation officials clarified that the corridor appears in multiple planning documents because different segments fall under different funding programs, leading to confusion about projected dates.

The issue resurfaced again during state budget negotiations in December, when Senate Republicans warned that SR 347 funding needed to be protected.

ADOT has since selected a contractor for the roughly 15-mile widening between Interstate 10 and the Maricopa city limits. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

Today’s draft plan begins the state’s required review process. ADOT welcomes feedback via an online form, by email at [email protected], by phone at 855-712-8530 and by mail at ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., Room 179, MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.