Heavy vehicle truck traffic restricted to right lane on I-10

The Arizona Department of Transportation has posted signs on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande restricting heavy vehicle truck traffic on the busy 20-mile section of highway to the right lane only.

Sign installation began Monday and is expected to continue through this week. The restrictions are expected to be in place until the widening project is completed, which ADOT said could be as early as 2026.

The signs are part of an effort to promote safety on the only two-lane stretch of I-10 remaining between metro Phoenix and Tucson. The Arizona Department of Public Safety and ADOT are collaborating on the project, with ADOT stating that the signs are an interim safety measure along the stretch of highway until it is widened to three lanes in each direction.

“This segment has safety concerns due to heavy traffic flow and truck traffic,” ADOT said in a news release. “The right-lane restriction for heavy vehicle truck traffic is intended to help reduce crashes, along with the resulting delays and closures due to these incidents. Based on data for the area where the signs are being posted, heavy vehicles were involved in about 20 percent of crashes and 15 percent of rear-end and sideswipe crashes.”

ADOT said the first step in the widening process is expected to take place next year when the bridges that carry traffic over the Gila River are replaced. That project will be completed following the required environmental review and clearance.

For more information about plans to widen I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande, please visit http://i10wildhorsepasscorridor.com/.