By Richard H. Dyer
Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA
A new freeway is taking shape in east Mesa along Loop 202 north of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, with fly-over ramps, or freeway-to-freeway traffic interchange ramps, being constructed.
“Boy, it’s exciting to go out there and see a lot of concrete being poured, a lot of dirt being moved,” Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said Aug. 14 to a state Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee about the work on State Route 24. The committee met at the Mesa City Council chambers, 20 E. Main St.
The first phase of work on the Gateway Freeway is roughly from Power Road along Loop 202 to Elliot Road and a mile of freeway that moves to the southeast to Ellsworth Road, Tony Staffaroni, senior community relations officer for ADOT, told the committee.
The Gateway Freeway meets Loop 202 northeast of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, 5835 S. Sossaman Road.
Workers are constructing three frames of connecting ramps to SR 24 and switching traffic to the eastbound lanes of Loop 202. Dirt hauling is being done 24 hours a day and workers have been installing concrete barriers on Loop 202. Construction began in April and should run through late fall 2013, Mr. Staffaroni said.
