North Valley Parkway begins at Jomax Road in northern Phoenix as a continuation of 19th Avenue. A six-lane bridge over the Central Arizona Project Canal was completed in December 2011. Heading north as a six-lane divided boulevard, the road temporarily narrows to just two lanes as it approaches Dixileta Drive where it temporarily narrows to two lanes, but widens to four lanes to intersect Sonoran Desert Drive, a surface road that connects to the Bob Stump Memorial Parkway (Loop 303). North of Dove Valley Road, traffic temporarily detours onto 27th Drive due to lack of funding of a bridge over Skunk Creek.. At the Carefree Highway (former SR 74), the parkway resumes its original route as a four lane undivided road providing access to Tramonto Marketplace, a local shopping center. Soon after, the road jogs west and closely parallels the Black Canyon Highway (I-17), providing a connection to the interstate highway via Pioneer Road and exit 225. At this intersection, the road changes names to the Gavilan Peak Parkway.