Widening and improving two of Arizona's most vital interstate highways is the focus of an Arizona Department of Transportation plan that's now available for public comment.

According to an ADOT news release, the 2020-2024 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program would devote funding for additional lanes between Anthem and Sunset Point, north of the Phoenix area, on Interstate 17. It also would fund design, scoping and an environmental assessment to widen Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande.

The I-17 construction would begin next year, according to the release; construction on I-10 would start in 2023.

The tentative five-year plan also allocates $260 million to $320 million per year for preservation of bridges and roadways, including repaving highways, filling potholes, and repairing or reconstructing bridges.

The public comment period is now open for the plan and will remain open until Tuesday, June 4. That window includes three public hearings, one of which already has occurred in Tucson. The other two are April 12 at the Flagstaff Council Chambers, at 211 W. Aspen Avenue, and the ADOT Administration Building Auditorium, at 206 S. 17th Avenue. Both meetings begin at 9 a.m.

If you can't make either of the meetings, you can submit comments online, at ADOT's website; by email, at [email protected]; or by phone, at 855-712-8530.

Following the public comment period, the State Transportation Board will hold an June 4 study session at the Phoenix site and a June 21 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.

(Note: Commenting on this blog post will not add your comments to the ADOT plan. You have to use one of the methods listed above.)