Ahwatukee Foothills residents can express their opinions on the South Mountain Loop 202 freeway next week at the first of what is promised to be many meetings on the subject.

On the Valley's highway maps since 1988, the freeway was originally designed to be built on Pecos Road connecting Interstate 10 in Ahwatukee Foothills with I-10 between 55th and 63rd avenues. But funding shortfalls held up that segment of the Valley freeway system.

In the meantime, Ahwatukee Foothills' population jumped from under 30,000 to more than 75,000 and developers built homes along Pecos Road in the freeway's proposed right of way. With most of the Valley's freeways either completed or in the process of being completed, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has begun a three-year, $6-million study to produce an Environmental Impact Study that answers the basic questions of: 1) Is there a problem that the South Mountain Loop 202 freeway or some other transportation system would fix? 2) If there is a need for something, what should it be and where should it go?

"What we are looking for from people is what they think about the freeway," said John Godec of Phoenix-based Godec, Randall and Associates, which is organizing the public participation part of the study. "Our biggest challenge is convincing people that there is no set route already in mind," said Godec, who will be at the Nov. 5 meeting.

The meeting will be held at Desert Vista High School, 16440 S. 32nd St., in the auditorium. A presentation will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. with questions and answers until 9 p.m. "Or later if people want to talk," Godec said. A second meeting, with the same information, will be held in west Phoenix, beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at Fowler School, 6707 W. Van Buren St. ADOT maintains a Web page at www.azdot.gov. with maps and information by clicking on roads & freeways. It also maintains an information line at (602) 712-7006.

The reporter can be reached at (480) 898-7914 or by e-mail at dmurphy@aztrib.com.