West side 202 decision due this week

By Doug Murphy, Staff Writer
Ahwatukee Foothills News
4-26-06

Between 190 and 795 homes and businesses in Laveen and Estrella hang on where the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team votes to recommend the Loop 202 be built Thursday night. The Citizens Advisory Team meets from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 27 at the Gila River Indian Community District 6 Center in Komatke, at 51st Avenue and St. John’s Road.

The team will select a western route for the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 this week, and then take a break. In the fall the team will start looking at possible routes and designs for the eastern leg of the freeway, which currently is planned to go on Pecos Road. The team’s western recommendation for a route will be just that, a recommendation, and can be changed by Arizona Department of Transportation engineers.

One western route, connecting with Interstate 10 near 55th Avenue, would take out 120 homes and 70 businesses. Another, going through Tolleson, would wipe out almost twice as many homes and a dozen businesses, as well as cutting through the tiny community. If Pecos Road is ultimately selected for the western freeway route it would mean removing an estimated 255 homes.
For more information on the freeway, visit www.southmountainfreeway.com.

Staff writer Doug Murphy can be reached at (480) 898-7914 or dmurphy@aztrib.com