ADOT meeting focuses on freeway update

By Doug Murphy
Staff Writer
Ahwatukee Foothills News
Jan. 19, 2005

The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a briefing this week to update residents on efforts to select a route for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

"It's basically a neighborhood meeting," said Matt Burdick, an ADOT spokesman.

The meeting will be held at Kyrene de los Lagos Elementary School, 17001 S. 34th Way from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday.

Early plans for the proposed freeway call for the highway to be where Pecos Road now lies, connecting Interstate 10 in the East Valley with I-10 in the West Valley.

Population growth during the last two decades has contributed to ADOT's decision to study whether a better location can be found for the freeway.

ADOT is looking at three possible alignments in the west between 55th Avenue and the Loop 101 intersection with I-10, as well as what would results from building on Pecos Road as well as and what would happen if nothing was built.

ADOT is also working with the Gila River Indian Community to determine if there are acceptable freeway alignments south of Pecos Road on Indian land.

Voters passed Proposition 400 last year to extend a half-cent sales tax in Maricopa County for transportation projects, including $1.4 billion to build the roughly 23-mile long South Mountain Freeway.

Burdick said ADOT hopes to have a route finalized by 2007.

For information, call (602) 712-7006 or visit www.dot.state.az.us.

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