Following the complete funding of a plan to widen 15 miles of I-17 in last year’s budget, Governor Doug Ducey today announced a $28 million investment that will accelerate the widening of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson.
In his State of the State Address, Governor Ducey said: “The Phoenix-Tucson corridor is an economic artery for our state and it needs expanding. It’s time to accelerate completion of I-10’s widening, in both directions, between our two largest cities. Our budget puts the pedal to the metal, with the construction of a new six-lane bridge over the Gila River. This replaces a 56-year-old bridge. 62,000 people drive over it every day. That’s 23 million a year. So let’s break ground ASAP.”
Currently, only portions of the I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix contain six lanes. The investment will fully fund a new $78 million six-lane bridge on I-10 across the Gila River, with capacity for even more lanes in the future. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will begin construction on the more than quarter-mile bridge in Fiscal Year 2021. The new bridge paves the way for ADOT to widen nearby highway lanes on I-10. The planned I-10 project will improve public safety and enhance economic development opportunities in central Arizona, the Gila River Indian Community, and across the state.
In 2019, Governor Ducey announced that investments topping $300 million will widen I-17 to three lanes between Anthem and Black Canyon City and build an 8-mile system of flex lanes on the grade between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. The project is set to begin by spring 2021, with completion of all improvements expected by 2023.
Additional recent infrastructure announcements include the opening of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, the largest freeway project in state history, and improvements to State Route 189 in Nogales and U.S. 95 in Yuma. Last week, Governor Ducey also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao requesting funding for the Tonto Creek Bridge in Gila County.
