ADOT releases I-10 draft study of proposed widening and improvements

The Arizona Department of Transportation has released a draft study of recommended improvements – including widening – of Interstate 10 from  Loop 202 in Chandler to State Route 387 in Casa Grande.

The documents, released Friday, evaluate options for widening I-10 along the 26-mile stretch, known as the Wild Horse Pass Corridor. Those improvements include modifying traffic interchanges and crossroads to improve traffic flow.

That segment of I-10 lies primarily on the Gila River Reservation. The Gila River Indian Community, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Highway Administration and Maricopa Association of Governments also are participating.

Proposed improvements would:

• Widen the freeway to three lanes from two, making I-10 a continuous three lanes from Phoenix to Tucson.
• Add a high-occupancy vehicle lane from Loop 202 to Riggs Road.
• Modify all interchanges and crossroads over I-10.
• ADOT also plans to replace all I-10 bridges across the Gila River as part of a separate project.

The draft Environmental Assessment and Design Concept Report are now available for public comment through Oct. 9. ADOT will hold four public hearings on the project – three in person and one virtual – during which it will share design recommendations and take public comment.

• In-person meetings are:
• Wednesday, Sept. 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Valley Christian High School, 6900 W. Galveston St. in Chandler.
• Tuesday, Sept. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Vista Grande High School, 1556 N. Arizola Road in Casa Grande.
• Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the District 4 Multipurpose Building, 2230 N. Home Run Drive, Sacaton.

The virtual meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 20, 5:30-9 p.m.

The English-language version can be accessed online at: bit.ly/WHP-EN or by telephone at 408-418-9388 and using meeting number (access code) 2484 471 6549. The webinar password is WHP2022 online or 9472022 by phone.

The Spanish-language meeting is available at bit.ly/WHP-EN, or by phone at 408-418-9388 using meeting number (access code) 2490 170 8079. The webinar password is WHP2022 online and 9472022 by telephone.

Information presented at each meeting will be the same. More information about the study and the presentation materials are available at i10wildhorsepasscorridor.com.

Printed copies of draft study documents are available at Phoenix Ironwood Library branch, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. in Phoenix, and Casa Grande Public Library, 449 N. Drylake St. in Casa Grande.