After being approved earlier this year in March, the controversial Loop 202 extension project has been started. The first home in the path of the freeway was demolished on Aug. 27, 2015, and more homes have been taken down since to make room for the new freeway project. Actual construction of the freeway itself, which is considered a “relief route” by some and environmental threat by others, is scheduled to commence in summer 2016.
How much will it cost and where is the money coming from?
The 22-mile-long extension will cost $1.75 billion and it will be paid for using state, federal and local funds, including money raised from the Proposition 400 regional sales tax passed in 2004.
Why have locals opposed building the extension?
Along with homeowners who’ve had to vacate their property because of the freeway’s construction, several others have protested against the Loop 202 extension because of the harmful environmental impact they believe it will cause to the South Mountain Park area. Additionally, the new freeway is within half a mile of 17 schools, which raises health concerns related to air quality.
What are the benefits of the Loop 202 extension & when will it be complete?
The freeway is projected to open to traffic in 2019 or early 2020, and is being called a “relief route” which will greatly reduce gridlock across the Valley and create a better path for those who travel to work from the west Valley to the southeast Valley. According to ADOT, with the Valley’s growing population, approximately 117,000 to 190,000 vehicles would use the South Mountain Freeway every day by the year 2035.
Where will freeway interchanges be located?
The eight-lane freeway, comprising three general purpose lanes and one HOV lane in each direction, will have several traffic interchanges that are roughly 1 mile apart at major streets. ADOT says interchanges will include:
- Van Buren Street
- Buckeye Road
- Lower Buckeye Road
- Broadway Road
- Southern Avenue
- Baseline Road
- Dobbins Road
- Elliot Road
- 51st Avenue
- 17th Avenue
- Desert Foothills Parkway
- 24th Street
- 40th Street
For more details regarding the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway extension, please visit the official azdot.gov page.
