TUCSON, AZ — Major improvements are in the works for travelers along Interstate 10 in the Tucson area, where new lanes and a rebuilt interchange are on track to open by the end of the coming year.

Motorists can expect a year of many changes as part of the ongoing project to widen I-10 between Ina and Ruthrauff roads. It is one of several significant projects the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has planned for southern Arizona in 2024. 

Some highly visible progress on I-10 will begin early in the year as crews place 121 girders for nine new bridges, along with concrete paving for the rebuilt section of freeway.

While heavy construction will dominate the 4-mile segment of I-10 during the year, it will come with a big payoff. By late 2024, ADOT will shift traffic onto a reconstructed freeway featuring four lanes of traffic in each direction. In addition, the Orange Grove Road interchange will reopen with wider entrance and exit ramps to promote safety and better traffic flow.

The $171 million I-10 project will continue into 2025, when a reconstructed Sunset Road interchange opens. The interchange will feature a connection eastward to River Road thanks to a new bridge, funded by Pima County, that will carry traffic over the Union Pacific railroad tracks and the Rillito River.

Throughout the project, ADOT is maintaining three lanes of traffic through the work zone during daytime hours and maintaining access to businesses.