Freeway
advisory committee reviews land needs Thursday
Ahwatukee Foothills News How much land a South Mountain freeway needs will be
discussed at this week's meeting of the South Mountain Loop 202 Citizens
Advisory Team. The meeting will be held at the Komatke Learning
Center, at 51st Avenue just north of Pecos Road, on the Gila River Indian
Community, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The design data report presentation by engineers will
include information on how much right-of-way is needed for each of the freeway
alternatives in the West Valley and for construction on Pecos Road in Ahwatukee
Foothills. So far, the team has identified five possible
north-south routes for the freeway's western portion. They extend from roughly
the western edge of South Mountain Park to Interstate 10, connecting at any of a
number of locations between 51st Avenue and Loop 101. In Ahwatukee Foothills, the only identified route is
the 1988 plan to build on Pecos Road, although discussions continue with the
Gila River Indian Community about the possibility of building the freeway on
Indian land. When constructed, the Loop 202 will connect I-10 near
Ahwatukee Foothills to I-10 in the West Valley. The advisory team is made up of residents in a number
of communities affected by the freeway from Avondale to Ahwatukee Foothills and
meets to advise the Arizona Department of Transportation on where to build the
freeway. The reporter can be reached at (480)
898-7914 or by e-mail at dmurphy@aztrib.com. |