Commuters in Phoenix can breathe a little easier now as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has announced the completion of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. This major transformation aims to alleviate traffic woes on one of the busiest stretches of Interstate 10. According to an ADOT news release, the project adds capacity over an 11-mile segment from Ray Road south to Interstate 17, near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
While the main construction efforts wrapped up last Saturday, drivers might still spot crews around the freeway, adding the last touches like planting bushes and finalizing wall, and barrier work. ADOT's efforts are geared toward handling the anticipated growth in traffic volume, expected to swell by 25% or 75,000 vehicles by 2040. As of now, more than 300,000 vehicles pass through the area on an average weekday.
Enhancements brought by the project include additional travel and HOV lanes in both directions, construction of Collector Distributor (CD) roads to differentiate through traffic from entering and exiting vehicles, and the inception of new bridges at 48th Street and Broadway Road. "As the largest urban freeway reconstruction project in Arizona, the benefits are endless for everyone who relies on our highway system — that includes motorists and the thousands of businesses along the corridor," Jennifer Toth, ADOT Director, told ADOT's news team.
Funding for the nearly four-year-long project came from a mix of federal funds, the Maricopa Association of Government's Prop 400 — a half-cent sales tax approved by Maricopa voters in 2004, and local funding. A public-private partnership model, which combined design and construction into a single contract, was utilized. The contract was awarded to Broadway Curve Constructors, a joint venture by Pulice, FNF Construction, and Flatiron Constructors, the project was designed by T.Y. Lin International Group, Stanley Consultants, and Aztec Engineering.
Concluding, this development is part of the Maricopa Association of Governments' Regional Transportation Plan, aimed at improving peak hour travel times, airport access, and supporting future growth in the region. For further details on the upgrades provided by the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, the public can visit ADOT's official announcement.
