Massive Widening Planned for Interstate 10 in Maricopa County

"The Arizona Department of Transportation has selected a preferred developer for a project to reconstruct a portion of Interstate 10 in Phoenix," reports Eleanor Lamb. That developer is a joint venture comprising Pulice Construction Inc., FNF Construction Inc., Flatiron Constructors and T.Y. Lin International.

According to ADOT, I-10's role as a key commercial corridor, linking the West Coast to the East Coast, necessitates the expansion of the freeway. Lamb provides more details about what ADOT is envisioning:

Proposed improvements include widening I-10 to six general-purpose lanes and two high-occupancy vehicle lanes and building a collector-distributor road system, which is meant to separate local and through traffic. The project also will include modifying I-10’s connections with state Route 143, Broadway Road and U.S. Route 60, as well as adding three pedestrian bridges to connect communities.

The stretch of I-10 targeted for the project runs for 11 miles between I-17 and State Route 2020. "Located southeast of downtown Phoenix, the project zone runs from the Salt River to Chandler and encompasses Tempe and Guadalupe," adds Lamb.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is quoted in the article touting the safety benefits of the proposed project, along with its potential economic benefits. On that latter score, Mayor Gallego cites the potential for $658 million in new economic activity.

"The project will be partially funded by the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Proposition 400, which is a sales tax dedicated to transportation purposes. Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 400 in 2004," according to the article.