Drivers traveling along Interstate 17 between the Interstate 10 “stack” interchange and Loop 101 will see new “wrong way” signs that were recently installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) as part of the state’s pilot alert system. 

ADOT has recently added 26 signs, 13 in each direction, along Interstate 17. They are mounted above the left lanes of the freeway in an effort to stop potential wrong-way drivers.

According to ADOT, the 15-mile stretch where the 8-foot by 5-foot signs are mounted is also where the department is installing a wrong-way detection and warning prototype using thermal cameras, which are the first-in-the-nation. ADOT said the program will detect wrong-way drivers and use warning messages to alert other drivers in addition to flashing “Wrong Way” signs to get the driver’s attention. 

The project also includes larger, lower “wrong way” signs at some freeway off-ramps throughout Phoenix and at interchanges on other Arizona highways. ADOT crews have also added large white arrow and red reflectors on dozens of exit travel lane ramps that show the correct direction of travel.