I-10 widening in Pinal County to start this year

The Arizona Department of Transportation disbursed $95 million in grant dollars for the widening of 10 miles of Interstate 10 through Pinal County.

Work is expected to start this year, beginning with expanding the bridges that carry traffic over the Gila River. The start date depends on completion of an environmental review. 

The target completion date for the full project has not been determined. 

Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith said the I-10 project will benefit local motorists. 

“This I-10 project puts in an overpass at Seed Farm Road, which aligns directly with Smith-Enke Road,” Smith said, adding it will give another possible direct route from Maricopa to I-10. 

The project will widen I-10 from two to three lanes in each direction, ADOT officials said. 

The total estimated project cost is about $1 billion: 

• $692 million allocated in the state budget
• $221 million in Management Assistance Grant funding
• $95 million in U.S. Department of Transportation Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant funding

The project will improve State Routes 387 and 187 Pinal Avenue interchanges, build a new Seed Farm Road interchange, and remove or replace the low-clearance bridges to include clearance through the segment. Fiber-optic cable will be installed.