I-10 Broadway Curve Draft Environmental Assessment available for review

PHOENIX – A study to make improvements to Interstate 10 at the Broadway Curve – one of the most-heavily traveled stretch of freeway in Arizona – is now available for public review and comment.

The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for widening 11 miles of Interstate 10 from the Interstate 17 “Split” interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the Loop 202 interchange in Chandler is now available on the I-10 Broadway Curve webpage, under the Documents tab. The document examines potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed improvements.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the Draft Environmental Assessment and provide input from Friday, Oct. 4, until Nov. 18. The website also lists locations where a copy of the report is available for review.

A public hearing on the Broadway Curve proposal is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 2100 S. Priest Drive in Tempe. The hearing will include presentations at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Members of the Arizona Department of Transportation study team will be available to answer questions.

There are several ways to submit comments on the Draft EA:

• Online: i10broadwaycurve.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 602.501.5505 (Bilingual Project Line)
• Mail: I-10 Broadway Curve Study, c/o ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007 
• In person at the public hearing

I-10 in the Broadway Curve area is a key commerce corridor and has seen increasing levels of traffic in recent years, especially during morning and evening hours. In 2018, I-10 west of State Route 143 carried an average of more than 287,000 vehicles each day.

Proposed improvements being studied include:

• Widening both directions of I-10 to six general purpose lanes and two HOV lanes between the Salt River bridge and US 60.
• Building a collector-distributor road system between Baseline Road and 40th Street to reduce the number of lane changes on the mainline and improve traffic flow.
• Adding a fourth general purpose lane on I-10 from US 60 to Ray Road and maintaining the HOV lane.
• Modifying I-10 connections at SR 143, Broadway Road and US 60 to improve traffic flow.
• Replacing ramps at I-10 interchanges at SR 143 and US 60 with new ramps, including new bridges.
• Adding up to three pedestrian bridges to connect communities.

The study team also is evaluating a no-build option - the condition that would exist if ADOT did nothing, which serves as a comparison.

Comments received during the draft EA period and earlier this year will be included in the Final EA.

If the study receives the necessary approval, construction could begin in early 2021 and would take up to four years to complete.