The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun a project to expand broadband internet access in northern Arizona.
ADOT crews on Tuesday began laying fiber-optic conduit along a 46-mile stretch of Interstate-17 between Flagstaff and Sedona.
According to officials, the goal is to provide more affordable high-speed internet options for rural communities. ADOT will also use it for smart highway technology including overhead message boards, traffic cameras and weather stations, and will lay the groundwork for the eventual use of automated vehicles. The technology is already in use on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson for dust detection and warning.
Drivers should expect right-land restrictions along I-17 during the project, which is expected to be completed by next summer.
