PHOENIX – Creating the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway’s interchange with Interstate 10 in west Phoenix is no small feat of engineering, starting with the need to have supports for flyover ramps to straddle existing lanes of traffic.

As is the case at other freeway-to-freeway interchanges around the Valley, this is being done with a structure known as a straddle bent. It is an alternative when a typical one-column pier carrying a ramp would need to be in the middle of an existing roadway. Instead, the straddle bent has multiple columns supporting a wide top, or cap, that in turn supports a ramp.

In construction, “bent” refers to a structure providing lateral as well as vertical support. The first South Mountain Freeway straddle bent, over the westbound lanes of I-10 near 59th Avenue, has two columns supporting a 140-foot-wide, 12-foot-high cap. On its own, it looks a bit like a giant concrete soccer goal.

Straddle bents are part of the freeway connections Valley motorists use every day. The flyover ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) in central Phoenix has a bent straddling the westbound lanes of I-10, while HOV ramp connections between those two freeways use three straddle bents over westbound I-10.

In all, seven straddle bents will be part of the South Mountain Freeway connection with the I-10 Papago Freeway, with the first going up after a series of weekend and overnight closures to allow large cranes to work.

This past weekend, Connect 202 Partners, the South Mountain Freeway developer, poured more than 400 cubic yards of concrete to complete the bent just east of the current I-10/59th Avenue interchange. The falsework that held the structure in place prior to the concrete pour will be removed in the near future.

In order to safely construct the seven straddle bents for the new I-10/Loop 202 system interchange at 59th Avenue, intermittent lane restrictions and closures of I-10 are needed regularly. Fortunately, ADOT minimizes the inconvenience to the traveling public by scheduling as much work as possible during non-peak hours, but because some of the work is occurring directly above the existing I-10, full closures are often necessary for the safety of motorists and construction crews.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

PHOENIX – Late-night motorists traveling on westbound Interstate 10 (Papago Freeway) at 59th Avenue should prepare for overnight closures early next week and lane restrictions the remainder of the month as crews work on the flyover bridge structures that will eventually connect to the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

Motorists using westbound I-10 toward the West Valley are encouraged to adjust their travel schedules to avoid the closures and lane restrictions, or allow extra travel time due to heavy traffic, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The following I-10 overnight closures and traffic restrictions at 59th Avenue are scheduled during July:

• Westbound I-10 closed at 59th Avenue from 9 p.m. Monday (July 10) to 5 a.m. Tuesday (July 11), from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday (July 12) and from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday (July 13).
• Westbound I-10 narrowed to one lane with brief intermittent closures at 59th Avenue from 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday (July 14) and from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday (July 15).
• Westbound I-10 narrowed to one lane overnight with brief intermittent closures at 59th Avenue from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights (July 16-20) – ending at 5 a.m. Friday.
• Westbound I-10 narrowed to one lane overnight with brief intermittent closures at 59th Avenue from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights (July 23-27) – ending at 5 a.m. Friday.

During freeway closures, westbound I-10 traffic will detour along the off- and on-ramps at 59th Avenue.

The scheduled restrictions are subject to change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen factors. The project team will update the schedule of planned restrictions if necessary.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov or call 511.

TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have begun a three-year environmental study of potential routes for the proposed Sonoran Corridor, which would connect Interstate 19 to Interstate 10 south of Tucson International Airport.

It begins with a comment period lasting through July 15, 2017, that encourages all members of the public to provide input on the Sonoran Corridor study area during a process known as public scoping. It is an opportunity to ask questions and share comments or concerns about topics such as potential locations for the corridor, environmental considerations, impacts on wildlife habitat or cultural resources, and possible opportunities for other transportation modes that may be considered.

Two public scoping meetings are scheduled:

• Wednesday, June 7, at the Radisson Hotel Tucson Airport, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road, Tucson
• Thursday, June 8, at the Santa Cruz Valley United Methodist Church, 70 E. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita

Both meetings will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with a presentation beginning at 6 p.m.

All feedback, questions, and comments from meetings, and provided through other means, will be considered part of the study and entered into the project record.

The Sonoran Corridor has been identified as a critical transportation facility that would diversify, support and connect the economy of southern Arizona and the entire state. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) designated the Sonoran Corridor as a high-priority corridor, reinforcing the need to conduct a study for a future transportation facility that would potentially alleviate traffic congestion at the I-19 and I-10 traffic interchange and reduce travel distances south of the Tucson International Airport.

There is no timetable for building the Sonoran Corridor, and no funding has been identified for it.

The Notice of Intent to prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2017, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which kicks off the formal environmental study process.  The purpose of the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement is to identify a selected corridor alternative, which could be the no-build option.

One of the first steps of the environmental study process is to develop a Corridor Selection Report to assess a wide range of corridor alternatives, along with opportunities and constraints.  Ultimately, this will result in a reasonable range of corridor alternatives that will advance into the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.  The Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement will assess on a broad scale the potential social, economic and natural environmental impacts of the no-build option, as well as the reasonable range of corridor alternatives.  

Each corridor alternative will be approximately 2,000 feet wide and contain smaller segments that could advance as independent improvement projects. Smaller segments would be studied separately in a Tier 2 environmental document if a corridor alternative is selected.

Individuals who are unable to attend one of the scoping meetings can submit written comments in any of the ways below:

Online survey: azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor
Email: [email protected]
Toll-free bilingual information line: 855.712.8530
Mail:
    Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS Study Team
    c/o ADOT Communications
    1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126
    Phoenix, AZ 85007

For more information about this study, visit azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. Persons who require a reasonable accommodation based on language or disability should contact Kimberly Noetzel at 602.712.2122 or [email protected]. Requests should be made as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the accommodation.

De acuerdo con el título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA por sus siglas en inglés), el Departamento de Transporte de Arizona (ADOT por sus siglas en inglés) no discrimina por raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, género o discapacidad. Personas que requieren asistencia (dentro de lo razonable) ya sea por el idioma o por discapacidad deben ponerse en contacto Kimberly Noetzel at 602.712.2122 o en [email protected]. Las solicitudes deben hacerse lo más pronto posible para asegurar que el equipo encargado del proyecto tenga la oportunidad de hacer los arreglos necesarios.

PHOENIX – Drivers on Interstate 10 should expect delays this week in the Harquahala Valley area west of Phoenix while Arizona Department of Transportation crews complete a pavement preservation project.

I-10 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Thursday between mileposts 63 and 70. Drivers should expect a reduced speed limit and delays during those hours.

Crews will be coating the roadway surface with a thin oil that seals cracks, rejuvenates the asphalt and prevents further cracking to extend the life of pavement. They will return later this spring after the oil has cured to re-stripe the roadway.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but weather or other factors can affect project schedules. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511.

TUCSON – A temporary bridge rolling into place Wednesday between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 10 at Craycroft Road will keep traffic flowing while the Arizona Department of Transportation replaces bridge decks there.

The $3.3 million project extending the life of the bridges at Craycroft Road will begin with eastbound traffic moving to the temporary bridge and crews working on the eastbound bridge deck. Westbound lanes are scheduled to move to the temporary bridge in June, when work shifts to the westbound bridge deck.

The payoff for drivers as this project continues through October: no detours, and only minor delays through the project area.

“This innovative approach will allow traffic on Interstate 10 to continue almost without interruption throughout this project,” said Rod Lane, district engineer for ADOT’s South Central District. “We’re excited that we can make improvements to the bridge surface without causing congestion on the only east-west freeway in Tucson.”

MARANA – Drivers on Interstate 10 near Ina Road will need to be alert for lane restrictions and a few changes now that a 25-month Arizona Department of Transportation project to rebuild the Ina Road traffic interchange has begun.

Westbound I-10 will be restricted to one lane between Sunset and Cortaro roads beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, as crews prepare to shift traffic to the westbound frontage road. That change, set to be in place by 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, will remain in place for about 12 months.

On Sunday, Feb. 19, eastbound I-10 will be restricted to a single lane beginning at 9 p.m. By 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, eastbound traffic will be moved to the westbound I-10 lanes. That change also will remain in effect for about 12 months.

Although the Ina Road interchange will remain closed until early 2019, access to businesses on both sides of the freeway is open.

Drivers heading to Orange Grove Road from westbound I-10 should exit at Sunset Road and follow the frontage road to Orange Grove. That change will be in place throughout the project, which is scheduled to end in early 2019. All other ramps at Orange Grove remain open.

Some other important notes for drivers:

• Watch for new stop signs on east- and westbound I-10 frontage roads at Sunset Road.
• The eastbound I-10 frontage road can be accessed from Ina Road via a new access road west of I-10.
• The eastbound I-10 frontage road between Gillette Road and Starcommerce Way is a two-way roadway. All eastbound frontage road traffic must turn right at Starcommerce Way.
• Ina Road is narrowed to one lane in each direction between I-10 and Silverbell Road. Traffic has been shifted to the north side of the road until this fall. 
• Massingale Road is closed at the westbound I-10 frontage road through late 2018 while the frontage road is reconstructed. Drivers should use Camino de Oeste instead.

The project also includes reconstruction of the Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River. This work has closed the Pima County Loop Trail south of Ina Road at Ted Walker Road and north of Ina Road at the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park for approximately two years. Once the bridge project is completed, there will be Loop Trail underpasses on each side of the Santa Cruz River, new bike lanes and sidewalks along Ina Road and ramps to Ina Road that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The reconstruction project includes widening I-10 to accommodate an additional lane in each direction and widening Ina Road from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz to improve traffic flow in the area.

MARANA – Ina Road has closed at Interstate 10 to begin 25 months of construction on a modern traffic interchange that will make travel safer and smoother.

I-10 on- and off-ramps at Ina are also closed. Westbound I-10 traffic heading for Orange Grove Road is exiting at Sunset Road and continuing west on the frontage road.

Ina Road remains open east and west of I-10, and the Arizona Department of Transportation will maintain access to all businesses throughout the project.

In early 2019, motorists and area businesses will benefit from a bridge carrying Ina Road over both I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, with ramps connecting to I-10.

Preliminary work on the $120 million project began last summer. While ADOT is overseeing construction, the Regional Transportation Authority, which is managed by the Pima Association of Governments, is providing funding for the new interchange. In addition, the town of Marana is providing $25 million for work that will widen Ina Road and reconstruct Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

During the closure, I-10 will be shifted through the work zone, and drivers who ordinarily would enter and exit I-10 at Ina Road can use Cortaro or Orange Grove roads, among other options.

MARANA – As part of the project to improve the Ina Road interchange at Interstate 10, the Orange Grove Road off-ramp from westbound I-10 will be closed and traffic shifted to the Sunset Road off-ramp.

The westbound frontage road will remain open to Orange Grove and north to the Orange Grove on-ramp. The frontage road north of the Orange Grove on-ramp will remain closed for the duration of the 25-month Ina Road project.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will close Ina at I-10 about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, as part of a project to improve the interchange by building a bridge to carry Ina over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The $120 million project also includes widening both Ina and I-10 and other improvements in the area.

Access to area businesses on both sides of I-10 will be maintained throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion in early 2019. Ina will be closed only at I-10.

On Tuesday, the right lane of westbound I-10 will be closed at Orange Grove from 9 a.m. to noon for signal maintenance work. The right lanes of I-10 will be closed intermittently between Avra Valley and Sunset roads beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday for overhead sign work.