PHOENIX – A busy 8-mile stretch of Interstate 10 in the West Valley has been widened to three lanes in both directions as an Arizona Department of Transportation freeway improvement project moves into the homestretch.

ADOT’s ongoing $82 million project has widened I-10 by one lane in both directions between Verrado Way and State Route 85. The new lanes are designed to improve safety and overall traffic flow for local drivers in Buckeye and motorists on longer trips in or out of the West Valley.

Weeknight and weekend lane restrictions are still planned while crews take care of final work on the project over the next several weeks. Construction on the two-year project started in July 2021.

In addition to the new lanes, I-10: SR 85 to Verrado Way Improvements is constructing new freeway bridges and reconstructing ramps connecting I-10 with SR 85. Crews also modernized the interchanges at Watson and Miller roads by rebuilding them using the diverging diamond design.

The I-10 project in Buckeye is part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan. It is funded in part by Prop 400, a dedicated sales tax for transportation improvements approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

WILLCOX – Arizona’s interstate freeways are essential corridors for personal and commercial travel. When an incident forces an extended closure, the Arizona Department of Transportation responds quickly to reopen the thoroughfare as soon as possible with safety the No. 1 goal. 

That’s what happened after a fatal semi-tractor trailer crash early Wednesday caused significant damage to the support structure of the US 191 bridge over westbound Interstate 10 just west of Willcox. Less than two days later, an ADOT project reopened the westbound lanes with a temporary support of steel members.

“I am proud of our ADOT team members and dedicated contractors who quickly identified and executed this emergency project,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “They safely set up detours, got the necessary team in place and worked around the clock to reopen this key corridor in less than two days.” 

Approved by ADOT’s Bridge Group, supervised by engineers in ADOT’s Southeast District and made possible by an emergency procurement, the project engaged Granite Construction Inc. as the prime contractor. Mere hours after the Arizona Department of Public Safety had completed its crash investigation, ADOT and the contractor began working nonstop to demolish the damaged bridge pier and erect the temporary support structure.

What the public can’t see when passing this temporary structure is the intensity of effort, the dedication and the commitment to safety that made it possible. 

A welder who was on site for nearly the entirety of the project told our engineers that he is 80 years old but still at it for his son’s company, which was a subcontractor. “I’ve retired six times but love what I do,” he said. 

Also generously assisting in this monumental effort were state, county and local law enforcement agencies that worked along the detour routes and southeastern Arizona counties and municipalities. The New Mexico Department of Transportation assisted with closing westbound I-10 in New Mexico. 

Now that a temporary structure is in place at the US 191 bridge at I-10 milepost 331, ADOT will determine a long-term plan. At a minimum, the pier, girders and deck where the crash occurred will likely need to be replaced.

There is never a good time for an extended closure, especially one that involves a lengthy detour from such a busy freeway. When it does happen, ADOT team members respond quickly and work as hard as possible with safety as their overriding goal. 

PHOENIX – A virtual public meeting about potential improvements at the Interstate 10 interchange with Baseline Road in Tempe will be held on Tuesday, May 9.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is hosting the virtual meeting to provide information and seek public input about a study of the busy interchange. The study will evaluate whether improvements will be made to the existing diamond interchange or if the interchange should be reconstructed using the new diverging diamond design.

The meeting details are as follows:

• Tuesday, May 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 
• Access the meeting online at: tinyurl.com/ycy8ykvw. The meeting ID number is: 849 4976 3354.
• Access the meeting by phone: In English call 669-900-6833. In Spanish call 866-730-7514 (Pin Number is 984619#) 

The meeting will include a presentation by the project team, followed by an opportunity for participants to ask questions and provide comments. A recording of the presentation will be posted to the study website for those unable to attend.

Comments on the current study phase are being accepted through May 23. An online survey is available at tinyurl.com/yv6vwbst.

For more information about the study and other methods to provide comments, visit the study website at azdot.gov/i10baseline. 

PHOENIX – Drivers in the West Valley can now use the second I-10 Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) to be constructed as part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s ongoing freeway widening project in the Buckeye area.

Crews reopened the I-10 interchange at Watson Road today (Thursday, April 27). The interchange has been reconstructed using the diverging diamond design, which has grown in popularity across the country for safety and traffic flow benefits.

Diverging diamonds allow the two directions of cross-street traffic traveling over or under a freeway to shift to the opposite side of the roadway. The crossing is designed to improve the overall movement of traffic and enhance safety by limiting potential traffic conflict points and allowing direct left turns onto a freeway entrance ramp. Drivers avoid waiting at a traffic signal and don’t cross in front of opposing traffic when making those left turns.

ADOT continues work to widen 8 miles of I-10 from two to three lanes in each direction between Verrado Way and State Route 85. The entire $82 million I-10 improvement project, which was launched in July 2021, is on schedule for completion this summer (2023).

The I-10/Watson Road interchange is the fourth full diverging diamond to be added along the state’s highway system. The nearby DDI at Miller Road opened in Aug. 2022 as part of the I-10 widening project. DDIs also have been constructed at I-17 and Happy Valley Road in north Phoenix and along I-10 at Houghton Road in the Tucson area. Two smaller diverging diamonds also are in use along the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix.

ADOT works in partnership with the Maricopa Association of Governments on the planning and construction of new freeways, additional lanes and other improvements in the Phoenix area as part of the Regional Transportation Plan for the Maricopa County region. Projects are funded in part by Proposition 400, a dedicated sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists to plan ahead and expect delays when westbound Interstate 10 is closed between Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway) and US 60 from 10 p.m. Friday, April 28, to 4 a.m. Monday, May 1. Crews with the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project will be conducting bridge and paving work.

At the same time, the following ramps will be closed:

• The westbound I-10 on-ramps at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard/Sundust Road, Chandler Boulevard, and Ray, Warner and Elliot roads.
• The westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) ramps to westbound I-10.
• The eastbound Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) ramp to westbound I-10.
• The westbound I-10 ramp to eastbound US 60. 

Westbound I-10 detour: Use eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to northbound Loop 101 (Price Freeway) to westbound US 60 or westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to access westbound I-10 beyond the closure. Drivers heading to the West Valley can bypass the closure by using the Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) west and north to connect with I-10 at 59th Avenue. 

Please note: Schedules can quickly change because of weather and other unforeseen situations. For the most up-to-date information, we encourage you to download the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project’s free mobile app, The Curve or visit the Alerts section of the project website before you travel.

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The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is identified in the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan, funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400. MAG identified the need for this project to reduce travel times on I-10 during peak hours; improve airport access; support ridesharing and transit; and prepare the region for future growth projections. Learn more about the major improvements here.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists to plan ahead and use detours as eastbound Interstate 10 is closed between State Route 51 and US 60 this weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, April 14 to 4 a.m. Monday, April 17. Crews with the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project will be conducting overhead sign work and work zone set up. During this closure, the following ramps will be closed.

• The eastbound I-10 on-ramps at Third, Seventh and Jefferson streets, Buckeye Road, 24th, 32nd and 40th streets and Broadway Road. 
• The loop ramp from southbound SR 143 to eastbound I-10. 
• The ramp from westbound US 60 to westbound I-10. 
• The southbound I-17 on-ramps at Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street. 
• The ramp from southbound I-17 to eastbound I-10. 
• The westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) ramp to eastbound I-10.
• The southbound SR 51 on-ramp at McDowell Road.
• The ramps from southbound SR 51 to eastbound I-10.
• The high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) ramp from eastbound I-10 to eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). 

Detour: Use eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) to southbound Loop 101(Price Freeway) to westbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to access eastbound I-10 beyond the closure.

Drivers traveling on southbound I-17 can use westbound I-10 to eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway).

West Valley drivers heading to the Southeast Valley can bypass the closure by using Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway). From I-10 and 59th Avenue, travel south and east to connect with I-10 south of Chandler Boulevard.

Please note: Schedules can quickly change because of weather and other unforeseen situations. For the most up-to-date information, we encourage you to download the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project’s free mobile app, The Curve or visit the Alerts section of the project website before you travel.

# # #

The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is identified in the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan, funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400. MAG identified the need for this project to reduce travel times on I-10 during peak hours; improve airport access; support ridesharing and transit; and prepare the region for future growth projections. Learn more about the major improvements here.