By Paul Maryniak | Ahwatukee Foothills News
At $1.77 billion, it will be Arizona’s most expensive highway project ever. It will include Arizona’s first effort to build a modern interchange called a “divergent diamond.” And it will include Arizona’s first long-term maintenance contract for a highway builder.
But one thing the South Mountain Freeway won’t include is an elevated right-of-way. It will largely run at grade while at least two cross streets will be elevated over it.
Crews are expected to begin removing desert plants around the intersection of I-10 and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway by next week in preparation for construction of the 22-mile freeway. The plants will be moved to a nursery ADOT is creating nearby and will be transplanted when the road is completed.
