National Bike Month: A good time to talk multimodal improvements for Pedestrians, Cyclists in Tempe, Phoenix and Guadalupe

On your left! 

May is National Bike Month!

This serves as a great opportunity to remind Valley residents that the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is working on enhancing pedestrian and bicycling connectivity. 

While the bulk of the project’s focus is on adding new travel lanes and major traffic interchange reconstruction work, crews are also building and improving bridges for people who bike, skate, scoot and walk to the places they need to be. This is good news for all, including cyclists. 

"Cycling enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate with the two new bicycle and pedestrian bridges under construction as part of the Broadway Curve project," said Elaine Mariolle, ADOT Active Transportation Coordinator. "These projects will greatly enhance active transportation and connectivity in the region and they are eagerly awaited by pedestrians and bicyclists."

Some multimodal infrastructure began to take shape this year as crews worked on placing massive prefabricated steel trusses for two new multi-use bridges over I-10 – one at the Western Canal and another at Alameda Drive. This year, crews also expect to complete widening work on the Guadalupe Road bridge to improve the Sun Circle Trail connection. 

Jeff Caslake, member of the Tempe Bicycle Action Group, who lives near Arizona State University, said the multimodal bridges have been needed for a long time. 

“I've lived in north Tempe near ASU for the past 22 years, and I think I've been anticipating the Alameda bridge for more than 10 of them,” Caslake said. “During Spring Training games, that time of year when the weather is fantastic, attendees in Tempe and other East Valley cities will really benefit from having a bicycle-pedestrian bridge connecting the stadium to the east side of I-10.” 

Caslake added that the Western Canal bridge will also be of great benefit to cyclists and multimodal users. “This bridge is going to be great for those riders further out into Mesa and Chandler.”

So, whether you ride a bicycle or scooter, skate or just like to walk about, here are some upcoming upgrades that may be enough to get your happy feet moving and spinning. Remember, be safe, have fun and happy trails. 

Alameda Drive

A multi-use bridge over I-10 in Tempe at Alameda Drive has been envisioned for decades. Alameda Drive was listed as an alternative bicycle corridor in Tempe’s 1991 bike plan; in 1995, the same plan expressly mentioned building a pedestrian bridge at Alameda Drive. Today, Alameda Drive has some of the highest east-west bicycle ridership in Tempe. The city is currently undertaking the Alameda Drive Streetscape Project and, when it is complete, Alameda Drive will serve as a multi-modal corridor connecting Tempe to Phoenix and Mesa. The new multi-use bridge that’s included as part of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project will provide the long-awaited safe passage over the interstate. As a bonus, the bridge offers an alternate route to Tempe Diablo Stadium, where an estimated 150,000 people a year attend free events, charity walks, youth sports and spring training.

Western Canal

Walkers, runners and bicyclists have long enjoyed the trails that line the canal system throughout the metro-Phoenix region. The Western Canal trail between Price Road and 19th Avenue is no exception. However there’s a major roadblock between Priest Drive on the east and 48th Street on the west: the I-10/US 60 traffic interchange. ADOT’s construction of a multi-use bridge just south of the interchange will provide a safe bypass for people who use the Western Canal trail for exercise, as well as residents on the west side of I-10 who can – at long last – walk to shopping, dining and entertainment venues.

Guadalupe Road Bridge

The Sun Circle Trail is a gem for outdoor enthusiasts in the Valley. The 120-mile trail system links cities and towns throughout Maricopa County. However, in some areas it is interrupted by roadways. One example is at Guadalupe Road. Although the Guadalupe Road bridge crosses I-10, it’s not wide enough to accommodate the various types of trail users. The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project includes widening the bridge to improve the Sun Circle Trail crossing. This means hikers, mountain bikers and even horseback riders will have safe access to and from popular trails in South Mountain Park. The improvements will also benefit the people who regularly walk or bike between Phoenix to the west and Guadalupe and Tempe to the east.

We anticipate opening the widened and improved Guadalupe Road bridge for all users in 2023. Construction of the two other multi-use bridges will continue throughout the year. We look forward to letting you know when they are open and ready for use. To see the latest project updates, visit: i10BroadwayCurve.com.