PHOENIX — Arizona Senate Republicans are urging lawmakers to protect funding for State Route 347 as budget discussions approach, warning that delays or cuts could jeopardize safety improvements on Maricopa’s primary highway.

Senate Appropriations and Transportation Committee Chairman David Farnsworth and Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope said they are working to safeguard state funding for SR 347, citing the corridor’s crash history and its importance to Maricopa commuters.

According to the Senate Republican Caucus, more than 76% of Maricopa households rely on SR 347 for daily travel. Traffic volumes have surged since the route was last widened in the late 1990s, as the city’s population grew from about 1,500 residents in 2003 to more than 80,000 today.

The corridor recorded 1,000 crashes in five years, including more than 300 at the Riggs Road intersection alone, according to a Dec. 5 press release from the caucus. Planned upgrades include full corridor widening, a new overpass at Riggs Road and additional intersection improvements.

The projects are supported by $50 million in local contributions, legislative appropriations and funding from Proposition 479. Construction on the Pinal County widening segment is scheduled to begin late next year.

“SR 347 is essential for daily life in Maricopa; we cannot afford any delays when lives are at stake,” Farnsworth said in the release. “The Legislature has already shown its commitment by allocating funds in the budget, and we must work to protect that investment.”

Shope echoed those concerns, calling the route a lifeline for the community and urging lawmakers not to cut funding during budget negotiations.

Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith said design work for the project is nearing completion and that the project is already out to bid.

“It is critical to keep all funding in place to allow this safety and capacity project to stay on track,” Smith said. “We are incredibly appreciative of Sen. Farnsworth’s attention to the importance of this project.”