The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced the reopening of the revamped I-10 Orange Grove interchange. The busy junction is back in business following extensive reconstruction that is set to streamline traffic and bolster safety on one of the state's critical roadways.
The interchange overhaul is just a single piece of a grander $171 million initiative, aimed at transforming and expanding the stretch of I-10 between Ina and Ruthrauff roads. Since April 2023, Orange Grove interchange had been shut down, save for the westbound exit ramp which remained operational. According to ADOT, the enhanced interchange now boasts broader entrance and exit ramps to alleviate congestion and minimize risks associated with delays.
With the Orange Grove junction now complete, the spotlight shifts to the last significant component of ADOT's project: the creation of new access by way of Sunset Road's eastward extension to River Road. This segment of the project, supported by Pima County, involves constructing bridges across both the railroad and the Rillito River.
Details released by ADOT reveal that the improved interchange features new Interstate 10 bridges that provide higher clearance for vehicles on Orange Grove Road below. The project's completion is anticipated by late 2025, with the Sunset Road component expected to introduce wider ramps similar to those at Orange Grove Road.
In addition to the interchange constructions, ADOT's project includes the replacement of a total of nine bridges, enhancements to the Canada del Oro Wash and Rillito River bridges, the construction of an access path to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop from Sunset Road, and the complete works relating to lighting, landscaping, and drainage improvements. The extensive work on I-10 is incorporated within the large-scale Regional Transportation Authority’s plan, managed by the Pima Association of Governments, with a commitment from ADOT to maintain business access throughout the project.
