The 5 Top Freeway Projects Coming to Maricopa County (and How to Comment on Them)

You can’t say ADOT isn't trying.

A few years ago, the Arizona Department of Transportation asked you, the public, to submit haikus to warn people not to drive in dust storms, and the campaign won industry awards.

The best one likened Eloy to Tatooine and drivers to Luke Skywalker: “You’re not a Jedi / This is not Tatooine, Luke / Pull over now, man.” Probably good advice as monsoon season looms.

Anyway, now ADOT wants your more studied thoughts on the state’s five-year construction plan, and has tapped Survey Monkey to enlist reactions. So far, 39 people have commented on Survey Monkey.

Public hearings began last month, continue today in Flagstaff, and wrap up May 19 in Phoenix. Then, on June 16, the State Transportation Board is set to adopt the $4.9 billion plan.

Here are the top five construction projects slated for our neck of Tatooine:

1. Interstate 10: $480 million to widen lanes and improve interchanges in Phoenix from the I-17 split at Sky Harbor airport to Loop 202 at Pecos Road. Work to begin January 2021.
2. Route 30: $295 million to build a new freeway in Goodyear connecting Loop 303 with the future South Mountain Freeway. Work to begin March 2022.
3. Loop 101 (The Agua Fria Freeway): $268 million to add carpool lanes in Glendale from I-10 to U.S. 60. Work starts January 2025.
4. Interstate 17: $216 million to add lanes and improve interchanges in Phoenix from the I-10 split (the Stack) to 19th Avenue. Work to begin September 2024.
5. Route 24: $146 million to build a new freeway between Ellsworth and Ironwood roads in east Mesa. Work to begin November 2019.

And here are the million-dollar maintenance babies:

1. Interstate 8 near the Yuma county line: $29.4 million to repave 14 miles of freeway. Starts after July 2019.
2. Interstate 8 near Paloma Road: $16.5 million to repave 10 miles of freeway. Starts after July 2017.
3. Interstate 10 in Buckeye near the Route 85 turnoff: $13.4 million to repave 6 miles of freeway. Starts after July 2020.
4. Interstate 10 in the Deck Park Tunnel in downtown Phoenix: $12 million to improve tunnel lighting. Starts after July 2018.
5. Interstate 17 at Moores Gulch: $5 million to replace a bridge. Starts after July 2020.
6. U.S. 60 in Wickenburg: $2.5 million to repave 1.5 miles of freeway. Starts after July 2017.
7. U.S. 60 Hassayampa Rest Stop: $2.3 million to restore the rest stop. Starts after July 2020.
8. Intestate 8 Gila Bend Rest Stop: $2.1 for designing repairs. Starts after July 2017.