Members of the Gila River Indian Community will vote Tuesday on whether to allow the last leg of the Loop 202 to be built on tribal land.
Extension of Loop 202 around South Mountain was proposed more than 25 years ago, but funding shortfalls and differences over its route have delayed the freeway.
Tribal members are divided on the issue.
Gila River Against Loop 202, led by community member Linda Allen, supports a no-build policy and is opposed to the extension of a freeway to connect the east and west valleys, on or off the reservation.
REZiSTANCE, founded by tribal council member Devin Redbird, advocates that if the highway must be built, better on the reservation where it can bring jobs and economic development.
Neither Redbird nor Allen immediately responded to emails from InMaricopa.com.
Gila River Against Loop 202, according a report Friday morning on KJZZ, a public radio station in Phoenix, said the freeway will bring more of Phoenix’s air pollution and congestion problems closer to home.
Redbird’s group maintains that having the freeway on tribal land would leave intact ridges of South Mountain that would have to be blasted if the extension was built off the reservation. The mountain is sacred to the tribe.
On Thursday, Bob Hazlett, senior engineer with Maricopa Association of Governments, the organization tasked with planning the route, said right now the community has a standing resolution not to allow freeway construction.
If Tuesday’s vote reverses the resolution, it will open a dialog between the tribe, MAG and Arizona Department of Transportation for construction on tribal land, Hazlett said.
If the new highway does transverse tribal land, 13 miles of the 22-mile extension would be on the reservation, he said. It would begin just south of Pecos Road and end at 51st Street.
InMaricopa.com on its Facebook page asked readers if they thought extension of the Loop 202 would make their drives to the Valley easier.
In an email, Michelle Stroschein said, “Building an extension of the 202 around South Mountain would keep my family in Maricopa for the long run. I currently commute 60 minutes (if there are no accidents) to work but only a couple days a week.
“Soon I will be commuting five days a week and would most likely move out of Maricopa because of the drive.”
“Yes!” -- Laura Finkel-Matteo.
Anthony Lopo said a highway going to the West Phoenix area would not make his drive easier.
Tobi Lee Smith said, “Any additional highways are a plus. And there are a lot of people who do indeed travel to West Phoenix and would love to get to stop using that slow two-lane road to get there.”
Adam Jaramillo said, “I think it would be great! More freeways … and Maricopa booming again. More jobs, less travel into Phoenix for those opportunities! More shopping and family fun as well.”
Josie Garza Morgan said she is eagerly waiting for the new freeway. She dislikes going to the West Valley and driving through Riggs Road on the reservation.
“Sometimes it’s faster going through the Valley,” she said. “Either way, yes to freeway!”
Chad Headley said he hopes the tribe votes it down.
“Haven't we already taken enough from the Native Americans? They don't want it, so I really hope it doesn’t pass,” he said. “There is no benefit for them to have this expansion of the 202. They'll lose more rights, get more pollution and lose their sacred land.”
Robin Grisham, however, said the freeway would be a good thing for the tribe.
“I am in favor of the freeway,” she said. “Allowing the freeway on tribal land would save sacred South Mountain from damage and put money in the pockets of Gila River residents.”
Dean Hodgen said it would be a benefit for anyone who travels Interstate-10.
“It will open up better access to Wild Horse Pass Casino, as well as the outlet malls that are currently being planned,” he said. “I would be willing to bet that the state/county governments will be paying for the usage, so that should be another benefit to the tribe.”
