PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Monday that the state will be receiving a $95 million federal grant to help expand Interstate 10 south of the Valley, which is good news for anyone who regularly drives between the Valley and Tucson.
Arizona will be receiving the INFRA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will be used to expand a portion of the 26-mile corridor on I-10 in the Gila River Indian Community between Phoenix and Casa Grande, which is currently just two lanes in both directions.
Right now, the freeway narrows to two lanes near the junction of I-10 and Loop 202, which is near Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, and then expands to three lanes just north of milepost 187 in Casa Grande.
The project will add a third lane in both directions, making it so the freeway will be three lanes for the entirety of the distance between the Valley and Tucson.
“We're talking about 65,000 vehicles a day and growing going through this relatively small stretch," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told 12News. "[It] just doesn't work.”
The funding from the INFRA grant will be specifically used for the portion of I-10 between an area just south of Casa Blanca Road (milepost 176) and the area where the freeway currently expands to three lanes south of State Route 387 in Casa Grande.
"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," Gov. Hobbs said in a press release. "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."
The federal grant will be added to $692 million from the state and $221 million from the Maricopa Association of Governments that has already been set aside for the project, which is estimated to cost about $1 billion in total.
“We see this around the country," Buttiegieg said. "Major projects that are too too large, too complicated to be done through the old funding mechanisms, but they just have to get done. Now the funding is finally coming to make it a reality.”
"(The Arizona Department of Transportation) 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."
Gov. Hobbs, Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and ADOT worked to secure the funding along with Arizona's U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly and U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton, Ruben Gallego and Raúl Grijalva.
"Too many of us have spent hours stuck in traffic on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson," Sen. Kelly said. "And for decades, residents and tribal members have been impacted by major bottlenecks preventing them from fully accessing jobs, housing, schools, and health care. Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these delays will be a thing of the past."
"I-10 is an infamous thoroughfare in Arizona notoriously known for its delays and traffic," Rep. Grijalva said. "This federal funding is a long-term investment that will benefit our state by making certain this corridor has the capacity to serve Arizonans."
“You've got a lot of growth happening in this region," Buttigieg said, "you need the infrastructure to support it.”
The project will also include the reconstruction of bridges over the Gila River on I-10 and six interchanges. The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-10 will also be extended south from Loop 202 to Riggs Road.
Construction on I-10 is expected to begin in early 2024 and will begin with the removal and replacement of the Gila River bridges.
To learn more about the project, click here: i10wildhorsepasscorridor.com.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.