Patience please for South Mountain's shared-use path

Families taking a stroll together as the sun sets behind the Estrella Mountains.

Teams of runners training on the rolling hills along the route that used to be Pecos Road.

People on bicycles on a leisurely ride, enjoying the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

We envisioned all of that when we began planning the shared-use path that runs along the south side of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway between 40th Street and 17th Avenue in Ahwatukee. We just want to make sure all that fun would take place after we finished building the path.

We began construction just eight months ago, after the freeway opened in December. It’s nicely paved and oh, so close to being ready. We expect it will be open in October, after we finish the freeway interchange at 32nd Street.

Yes, it’s enticing, but we have to ask that you wait until the construction equipment and crews are gone before you start taking advantage of this new community asset.

Why wait? We worry about your safety. Because nothing is more important than safety.

For about the next two months we’ll be finishing construction on the interchange at 32nd Street. The people driving our large construction equipment aren’t expecting to come across runners or cyclists, so they aren’t looking for you. 

So please – pretty please – let us finish our work before you begin to play. The new path is supposed to be a source of fun. We look forward to opening it up to you soon.