The I-10 corridor is a main corridor for all Arizonans, with parts of this project area seeing up to 120,000 vehicles daily. This 26-mile stretch of I-10 is the only remaining gap, or unimproved section, which creates bottlenecks and traffic delays for all who travel this section of I-10.
Obtaining funding for this project was a top priority for Hobbs, the Gila River Indian Community, the Arizona Congressional delegation, and the Arizona State Legislature, and was made possible through coordination between Hobbs, GRIC Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
This grant represents a unique partnership of governments, involving state, federal, tribal, and county governments in the planning and development of the grant to address the safety and infrastructure needs in Arizona and within the Gila River Indian Community.
“The I-10 serves as a major connector for the entire state, and I am thrilled to announce that we have secured the funds necessary to ensure it remains a gateway for generations to come,” Hobbs said. “By securing this investment, we are not only improving our state’s infrastructure, we are propelling Arizona’s economy forward, ensuring a prosperous future for all. I want to thank Governor Lewis for his tireless advocacy and our federal partners for helping make this possible.”
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The grant funding will be added to the $692 million in state of Arizona funding appropriated for the project and a $221 million contribution from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) through Proposition 400. The total project cost is estimated at just over $1 billion.
“ADOT is excited to receive this funding and to work on this critical project,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “The federal grant dollars are critical for expanding the principal roadway between Phoenix and Tucson. The project will deliver the best infrastructure to improve drive times and enhance safety. We thank the Gila River Indian Community for their tremendous partnership and collaboration, along with our federal, regional, and local partners.”
The grant — funded through investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides necessary funding for the southernmost segment of the 26-mile stretch and completes funding for the upcoming expansion of I-10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande. The grant will contribute to the construction of the section of the project from just south of Casa Blanca Road to just south of State Route 387.
Significant partnerships with the Gila River Indian Community and other nearby communities have taken place over the past few years. An engineering and environmental study for the project is currently being completed in coordination with GRIC and MAG and includes the following proposed improvements:
- Adding a new general-purpose lane in the east- and westbound directions, extending the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane on I-10 from Loop 202 to Riggs Road, and improving interchanges and crossroads to increase capacity and access. This improves safety by reducing congestion and travel times and lessening detoured traffic on the Gila River Indian Community.
- Replacing I-10 bridges over the Gila River to maintain a state of good repair by modernizing this key infrastructure.
- Building new and improved traffic interchanges to create safer crossings for farm equipment, bicyclists, and pedestrians and to boost connections and quality of life.
- Installing fiber optic infrastructure within ADOT Right-of-Way to allow for the installation of sensors, cameras, and other highway safety-related technology.
Following completion of the required environmental review and clearance, work is expected to start in early 2024, beginning with expanding the bridges that carry traffic over the Gila River. The target completion date for the full project has not been determined.
