Project Overview

In 1985, Maricopa County voters approved funding for the Maricopa Association of Government's (MAG) Regional Freeway System which included a South Mountain Freeway connecting Interstate 10 in the Southeast Valley with Interstate 10 in the West Valley. The State Transportation Board approved an alignment for the South Mountain Freeway in 1988, running east and west along Pecos Road and then turning north to connect with I-10 West near 55th Avenue.

Due in part to a funding shortfall, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) was unable to develop 76 miles of planned freeways, including the South Mountain Freeway. The unfunded corridor, however, remained part of the planned Regional Freeway System. In 1999, ADOT announced plans to accelerate the completion the entire Regional Freeway System. The accelerated plan included a portion of the South Mountain Freeway.

In 2001, ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began the updated study through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine if such a freeway is still needed to meet the needs of the traveling public, where it should be located, and what the environmental, social and economic effects of such a roadway might be. The updated EIS was required due to the many changes in the study area since the original 1988 Environmental Assessment was completed.

The funding shortfall for a South Mountain Freeway was alleviated with the passage of Proposition 400 in November 2004. There have not been any decisions related to the South Mountain Freeway and the Pecos Road alignment. ADOT continues to study the freeway, as proposed by the MAG. However, ADOT has identified an alignment that would connect with Interstate 10 at 55th Avenue as the "Preliminary Preferred Build Alternative" for this segment of Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway).

A final decision on the alignment of the South Mountain Freeway - including a decision on if the roadway will be constructed - will be made at the conclusion of the environmental process, which is examining the entire South Mountain Freeway corridor.

 
When the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released to the public, it will detail the options considered in the Southwest Valley and describe the reasons why the 55th Avenue Alternative was selected as the preliminary preferred option for the Western Section. The draft report will also detail the Pecos Road option being considered in the Eastern Section area of the study. If other options become available to study, the process will take those into account. The draft report also will discuss the "No-Build Alternative" for the entire South Mountain Freeway to examine the effects of not building the freeway as proposed by MAG.

The draft report will be made available for at least 45 days for the public to review. During that comment period, two public hearings will be held on the contents of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

From there, the public will have another 30-day opportunity to comment on the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The comments received during both 45-day and 30-day comment periods will be used by ADOT and Federal Highway Administration in making a final decision regarding the project. That final decision will be presented in the Record of Decision by FHWA. ADOT will begin acquiring right-of-way after the final decision is made.

As part of the final decision-making process, ADOT will work with the MAG regarding the study recommendation and the regional support to fund the project as part of the Regional Transportation Plan approved by voters. Should a build alternative be selected for the South Mountain Freeway, the Regional Transportation Plan designates the construction funding available in 2009–2015.

Our Valley Freeway System is part of the 2004 voter-approved Regional Transportation Plan. We are working hard with our transit partners to implement the voters’ vision and are committed to quality, safety, open communication with our neighbors, and minimal inconvenience to the traveling public.