By Jodie Newell | Pinal Central
PHOENIX — Sen. T.J. Shope told PinalCentral on Monday he has pushed aside the initial disappointment of the rejection of a MEGA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and said the state of Arizona will raise the money for much-needed improvements to Interstate 10.
“We will get the money,” Shope said confidently. “I mean, there is a surplus here at the state level. We can go ahead and do it ourselves. Rep. (Teresa) Martinez and I are working on that to see what that looks like.”
Shope also indicated that the Arizona Department of Transportation will be unveiling plans at the upcoming Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Biz Outlook event on March 17 that will feature a start toward the freeway upgrade with state funds already approved.
“ADOT has a plan,” said Shope. “They’re gonna go ahead and get started on construction, the money’s there for the bridge and the money is there to start the project in Casa Grande.”
Shope said he is extremely critical of the decision taken by the U.S. DOT to deny the MEGA grant funding, describing it as a “slap in the face.”
