Senate Republicans Emphasize Urgent Need to Protect Funding and Improve Arizona's Deadly Highway 347

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   Friday, December 5, 2025

Senate Republicans Emphasize Urgent Need to Protect Funding

and Improve Arizona's Deadly Highway 347

PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Senate Appropriations & Transportation Committee Chairman David Farnsworth and President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope are working to protect funding for State Route 347 amid potential budget cuts in the upcoming legislative session. It's essential to ensure ongoing improvements, as over 76% of Maricopa households rely on this route for daily commutes.

State Route 347 has served as Maricopa's primary connection to the Phoenix metro area for decades. Since it was last widened in the late 1990s, traffic volumes have surged, with the city's population growing from about 1,500 in 2003 to over 80,000 today. This corridor has seen nearly 1,000 crashes in recent years, more than 300 at the Riggs Road intersection. Planned upgrades include full corridor widening, a new overpass at Riggs Road, and intersection improvements. Supported by $50 million in local contributions, legislative appropriations, and funding from Proposition 479, these projects are critical. With potential budget cuts approaching, protecting these funds from reaching the chopping block is vital. Construction for the Pinal County widening segment is scheduled to begin in late 2026, marking progress for the community.

"SR 347 is essential for daily life in Maricopa; we cannot afford any delays when lives are at stake," said Chairman Farnsworth. "The Legislature has already shown its commitment by allocating funds in the budget, and we must work to protect that investment to ensure these projects are completed. Every improvement we make on this corridor brings us closer to preventing tragedies, supporting economic growth, and ensuring that Arizona families can travel safely for generations to come."

"The funding secured for the long-overdue improvements to SR 347 is essential—it is a lifeline," said President Pro Tempore Shope. "Every dollar represents a commitment to saving lives, strengthening our economy, and finally providing our community with the safe infrastructure it deserves. As budget discussions approach, we must not allow these critical investments to be cut. Protecting this funding is not only a sensible fiscal policy; it is a moral obligation to every driver who relies on this corridor to get home safely."

"Things are progressing nicely for the SR 347 projects since the approval to place it in the state's Five-Year Program in June," said City of Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith. "The design is nearing completion, the project is out for bid, and construction will start soon. It is critical to keep all funding in place to allow this safety and capacity project to stay on track. We are incredibly appreciative of Senator Farnsworth's attention to the importance of this project."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov