Decision on Loop 202 is delayed

Corinne Purtill
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 7, 2006 12:00 AM

Ahwatukee Foothills will have to wait longer than the West Valley for word on whether the South Mountain Freeway is going near their community, consultants said at the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team meeting Thursday.

A draft report expected this fall will identify the preferred alignment in the West Valley. It will not, however, contain any conclusion on the proposed Pecos Road route or possible routes on the Gila River Reservation, said Amy Edwards of HDR, a consulting firm working with the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT has proposed linking the freeway's western leg to Interstate 10 at 55th Avenue, 71st Avenue or Loop 101. Cities and developers in the West Valley have pressured ADOT to pick a route so they can proceed with development.

Though some no-build advocates worried that a west- side vote would push planners toward building the freeway, most on the advisory group said they needed to choose a western route so that the vast affected region there could rest easier.

"Right now we're holding people hostage on the west side," team member Steve Boschen said.