Ruthrauff Road opens over I-10 as project nears completion

Late Thursday, motorists began using the new bridges that carry traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Drivers should expect ongoing temporary lane restrictions as crews continue work on the reestablished connection across I-10.

The ramps connecting I-10 to Ruthrauff Road and El Camino del Cerro remain closed and are expected to open in the next several months. Later this summer, westbound I-10 traffic will shift from its temporary configuration to the newly reconstructed westbound lanes.

The $129 million project also means drivers will no longer have to wait for trains to pass along the east side of I-10. With Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro now traveling above I-10, traffic can move through the area more smoothly and safely.

When the project is completed late fall, drivers will benefit from other improvements that include:

Expanding I-10 from three to four lanes in each direction.

Widening Ruthrauff/El Camino del Cerro to two lanes in each direction crossing I-10.

Reconstructing the ramps and frontage roads so all traffic flows above the railroad tracks.

Constructing an underpass to carry Davis Avenue/Highway Drive under Ruthrauff Road, with traffic using local roads and Maryvale Avenue to connect with Ruthrauff Road.

Drivers should expect occasional lane restrictions in the next several months, including when I-10 lanes are shifted to their permanent configuration.

The project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority’s roadway improvement plan, managed by the Pima Association of Governments. It is ADOT’s fourth recent major I-10 traffic interchange project in Pima County that allows drivers to cross I-10 without waiting for trains, following similar projects at Prince Road, Twin Peaks and Ina Road.

For more information, go to azdot.gov/RuthrauffTI.