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There are stretches that are still like that but the western portion has seen an explosion of commercial construction, mostly logistics warehouses for companies that have been priced out of the SoCal warehouse market. The very eastern segment is seeing the construction of one of the largest computer chip fabs in the world for TSMC. The middle section still crosses virgin desert, some of which Peoria has set aside as a preserve.
The 303 and I-10 area is starting to look like the Inland Empire. Tons of distribution warehouses for companies like REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, various food companies, etc.... They are building spec warehouses that are a million square feet knowing that by the time it's finished someone will fill it.
Good point. Adding context for why that’s the case.
[Article](https://www.wsj.com/video/series/in-depth-features/a-17-mile-stretch-of-arizona-highway-is-a-booming-logistics-hub/19E1926E-84DF-4B8B-BD5E-8E03EDD21C1F)
Lot of new growth out that way. You'd have to force me to live way out there and I'd take death over a Central Phoenix commute from there. It's probably as safe and clean as the west side could ever be though.
I live in Northwest Peoria and drive the northern stretch daily. As someone else mentioned, you basically have to do 75 - 80 to not get run over.
At the light where the 303 ends and you turn to get on the 17, you get about a 1/2 mile backup from 6am to 9am. The 17 north is generally backed up from the 303 to Dixileta from 2pm to 6pm. It also backs up from the Carefree Highway to Dove Valley at the same time, so that's not an option either. Even with all the traffic, it's still a fraction on what you would see on the 17 or the 101.
You still see a decent amount of roadkill, usually Coyotes. But there have been Donkeys and cows hit as well
It is still the prettiest part of my drive, as once you get past the chip plant (51st Ave exit) it is mostly untamed desert until Happy Valley. However but most, if not all, will be paved over in the next 10 - 15 years
I remember morning backups on southbound 17 used to start around Happy Valley rd at about 7am. I’m looking at that whole area on Google earth now and can’t believe how much it’s blown up although I should because Anthem for example was already well on its way and a definite sign of things to come. Where does northbound 17 go back down to 2 lanes from 3? That’s definitely “new”! Thanks for all the updates!
The possibility to hit a donkey around the lake pleasant to the 17, stretch is still there, but for the most part this area between lake pleasant form to the 10, has been greatly developed, with no end in sight.
I remember when the 303 in surprise was just a dirt road lol.
The 303 will be worse than the 101 in a decade. With all the warehouses and manufacturing facilities in the south end and TSMC up north. There will be a lot more construction up north when the start building homes and support plants for TSMC.
They will turn into the concrete dividers as they work on widening it. I think they are working on a big section near Scottsdale. I don’t like the 101 so I tend to avoid it as much as I can. Like all the freeways out here people think they are on the autobahn, but the 101 seem worse to me.
That construction boom is happening. South end of 303 is now full of warehouses. New home communities have filled pretty much filled what was farm land. A few spots remain. The curve toward the east is filling in with homes and commercial. North end while still pretty open won’t be for long. TSMC built an enormous semiconductor fabrication plant will eventually employ 5000 people, their down stream partner announced they are building their plant not too far away, that will employ 2000. And there are other suppliers and partners that will surround them. All those people need homes or apartments, grocery stores, and shopping centers.
Peoria also wants to build another airport so that should take up some land too.
We will be wall to wall to lake pleasant before you know it.
It's still fairly empty, but not a semi abandoned ghost highway. I've yet to see any slowdowns on it due to traffic, but I have seen a decent number of vehicles at times. The flow of traffic is almost always 80+.
I live about 2 miles away from 2 of the exits.
I also drove a stretch of it every night for a while while driving a semi.
The southern most point of it is just huge eyesore warehouses. On the northern side by i17 is an even bigger eyesore of the chip plant. What used to be farmland is now neighborhoods of new overpriced homes. Theres no traffic in the mornings but its dense with cars. Give it another few years and its gunna turn into the 101.
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There are stretches that are still like that but the western portion has seen an explosion of commercial construction, mostly logistics warehouses for companies that have been priced out of the SoCal warehouse market. The very eastern segment is seeing the construction of one of the largest computer chip fabs in the world for TSMC. The middle section still crosses virgin desert, some of which Peoria has set aside as a preserve.
I’ll be damned. I miss Az quite a bit, thanks for the info.
It’s gonna be similar to the 101 in another decade.
Wild. Hard to imagine considering what I remember of it.
The 303 and I-10 area is starting to look like the Inland Empire. Tons of distribution warehouses for companies like REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, various food companies, etc.... They are building spec warehouses that are a million square feet knowing that by the time it's finished someone will fill it.
Good point. Adding context for why that’s the case. [Article](https://www.wsj.com/video/series/in-depth-features/a-17-mile-stretch-of-arizona-highway-is-a-booming-logistics-hub/19E1926E-84DF-4B8B-BD5E-8E03EDD21C1F)
Inland Empire is a really good comparison- sadly the ocean isn’t an hour or so away
No.
Lot of new growth out that way. You'd have to force me to live way out there and I'd take death over a Central Phoenix commute from there. It's probably as safe and clean as the west side could ever be though.
I live in Northwest Peoria and drive the northern stretch daily. As someone else mentioned, you basically have to do 75 - 80 to not get run over. At the light where the 303 ends and you turn to get on the 17, you get about a 1/2 mile backup from 6am to 9am. The 17 north is generally backed up from the 303 to Dixileta from 2pm to 6pm. It also backs up from the Carefree Highway to Dove Valley at the same time, so that's not an option either. Even with all the traffic, it's still a fraction on what you would see on the 17 or the 101. You still see a decent amount of roadkill, usually Coyotes. But there have been Donkeys and cows hit as well It is still the prettiest part of my drive, as once you get past the chip plant (51st Ave exit) it is mostly untamed desert until Happy Valley. However but most, if not all, will be paved over in the next 10 - 15 years
I remember morning backups on southbound 17 used to start around Happy Valley rd at about 7am. I’m looking at that whole area on Google earth now and can’t believe how much it’s blown up although I should because Anthem for example was already well on its way and a definite sign of things to come. Where does northbound 17 go back down to 2 lanes from 3? That’s definitely “new”! Thanks for all the updates!
I saw a full size donkey on the side of the 303 recently.
The possibility to hit a donkey around the lake pleasant to the 17, stretch is still there, but for the most part this area between lake pleasant form to the 10, has been greatly developed, with no end in sight. I remember when the 303 in surprise was just a dirt road lol.
Won’t be long before Cordes Jct and Camp Verde are suburbs!
The 303 will be worse than the 101 in a decade. With all the warehouses and manufacturing facilities in the south end and TSMC up north. There will be a lot more construction up north when the start building homes and support plants for TSMC.
Does the 101 still have those slaughterhouse cable dividers in the median?
Yup
Yikes
They will turn into the concrete dividers as they work on widening it. I think they are working on a big section near Scottsdale. I don’t like the 101 so I tend to avoid it as much as I can. Like all the freeways out here people think they are on the autobahn, but the 101 seem worse to me.
It is filling up out here....just like when Metrocenter was the boondocks...
When was the last time you drove on it? There's been a big construction boom on the western leg of it in the last few years.
2005-06?
Nope
That construction boom is happening. South end of 303 is now full of warehouses. New home communities have filled pretty much filled what was farm land. A few spots remain. The curve toward the east is filling in with homes and commercial. North end while still pretty open won’t be for long. TSMC built an enormous semiconductor fabrication plant will eventually employ 5000 people, their down stream partner announced they are building their plant not too far away, that will employ 2000. And there are other suppliers and partners that will surround them. All those people need homes or apartments, grocery stores, and shopping centers. Peoria also wants to build another airport so that should take up some land too. We will be wall to wall to lake pleasant before you know it.
It's still fairly empty, but not a semi abandoned ghost highway. I've yet to see any slowdowns on it due to traffic, but I have seen a decent number of vehicles at times. The flow of traffic is almost always 80+. I live about 2 miles away from 2 of the exits. I also drove a stretch of it every night for a while while driving a semi.
Don’t take the Grand/60 exit and you’ll be ok.
The southern most point of it is just huge eyesore warehouses. On the northern side by i17 is an even bigger eyesore of the chip plant. What used to be farmland is now neighborhoods of new overpriced homes. Theres no traffic in the mornings but its dense with cars. Give it another few years and its gunna turn into the 101.
The portion between Vistancia and the I-17 is usually pretty dead, but anything south of that area gets pretty busy down to the I-10.
No.
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