There was shock, frustration and relief among West Valley residents Tuesday as they leaned over giant maps at the Estrella Vista Reception Center and saw where their homes sit in relation to the proposed South Mountain Freeway.

"I was very upset," said Lori Figueroa, 36, upon learning that the freeway could run through or next to her Tolleson home. "Whether they put it here, there or somewhere else . . . someone's home or business is going to be destroyed."

More than 100 people attended the first of three daylong open houses the Arizona Department of Transportation held this week to discuss the proposed South Mountain Freeway. Other meetings were held in Laveen and Ahwatukee Foothills.  

The $1 billion freeway would link Interstate 10 in the west and south, bypassing Phoenix. ADOT has proposed connecting the western leg at 55th Avenue, 71st Avenue or Loop 101, and the southern leg along Pecos Road in Ahwatukee.

Each western alignment would claim some homes and businesses. Tuesday's meeting was the first chance many residents had to view aerial photographs showing the freeway's potential footprint.

The issue is a highly charged one for the business community. Two employees of Western Container Corp. were at the meeting to gather information for co-workers. Joining the freeway at Loop 101 could take their plant, possibly resulting in a loss of employees who don't want to move.

"We definitely don't want the alignment," Human Resources Administrator Allison Zimmerman said.

Many residents were more peeved by the prospect of living next to a freeway than losing their home to one.

One alignment would run an elevated section of the freeway right past the house Cherrie Underwood, 45, moved into in April.

"One of the reasons we bought this house was this beautiful view of the (Sierra Estrella) mountains," she said. "This is even more frustrating. I'd rather they buy us out."

ADOT plans to recommend a West Valley alignment by fall 2006. Some residents are looking forward to moving ahead with the freeway, which has been on the books since 1985. "I told them, write me a check and they can have the house today," said Dave Lewis, whose home on the Phoenix-Tolleson line sits in one of the alignments.