Title
Freeway Program Update
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee updates on the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) freeway program within the City of Phoenix.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Transportation Plan reflects numerous freeway construction projects and studies underway within the City of Phoenix. These projects are funded from the voter approved priorities in the Proposition 400 half-cent sales tax as well as from state and federal revenue sources. The City of Phoenix works closely with ADOT on these major construction projects to ensure coordination of all construction activities with City departments. This report is an overview of the current major freeway projects. A monthly report will be provided to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee reflecting project changes as well as new projects.
South Mountain/Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway
The South Mountain/Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway is the last piece in completing the Loop 202 system. The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway runs east and west along Pecos Road and then north and south between 55th and 63rd avenues, connecting with Interstate 10 (I-10) on each end. This is the single largest freeway project in Arizona history - built at one time. The entire freeway is within the City of Phoenix.
Key elements of this project are 40 bridge structures, 15 traffic interchanges, 11 miles of sound walls, 5 multi-use crossings, 4.5 miles of improvements at I-10, a six-mile shared use path, and a pedestrian bridge.
The freeway opened in December 2019.
Update:
- Work will continue into fall 2020 to complete a traffic Interchange at 32nd Street, a 6-mile shared use path between 40th Street and 17th Avenue, completion of pedestrian bridge north of Broadway Road, additional quiet pavement, as well as landscaping.
Interstate 17 - Pinnacle Peak And Happy Valley Road
This project is rebuilding the traffic interchanges on Interstate 17 (I-17) at Happy Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads to improve safety and traffic flow as population growth and development in this area continues.
The bridge reconstruction at Pinnacle Peak Road will have two through lanes in each direction, bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. The bridge reconstruction at Happy Valley Road will remove the existing roundabouts and construct a Diverging Diamond traffic interchange with three through lanes in each direction, bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways.
Construction began in November 2018 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2020.
Update:
- On Aug. 7, ADOT began removing the Happy Valley Road roundabouts to add the diverging diamond interchange. This work will take place through September and requires drivers to take alternate routes. The northbound I-17 on-ramp and the southbound I-17 off-ramp at Happy Valley Road will be CLOSED. The southbound frontage road will be closed between Jomax and Happy Valley roads, and the northbound frontage road will be closed between Happy Valley Road and Agave.
- All lanes on Pinnacle Peak Road are scheduled to open in early Sept.
- The public art installation being managed by the Office of Arts and Culture will start being placed on the Happy Valley Road bridge structure this month.
Loop 101 - Interstate 17 To Pima Road
This project is widening and improving the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from I-17 in Phoenix east to Pima Road in Scottsdale. The improvements are needed to address growing traffic demands in the northeast Valley and relieve traffic congestion on the Loop 101 during the morning and evening peak travel periods.
The major elements of this project include adding one general purpose lane in each direction between I-17 and Pima Road, adding an auxiliary lane in each direction between Seventh Street and Cave Creek Road, and modifying freeway ramps and frontage road connections at 11 interchanges. Additional components include construction of noise or retaining walls where warranted, improvements to drainage and new rubberized asphalt resurfacing and pavement markings.
Construction began in February 2019 and is scheduled for completion in spring 2021.
- The Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) from Interstate 17 to Pima Road will now be receiving a final pavement treatment called diamond grinding, in conjunction with the current widening project. The diamond grinding pavement treatment will replace the previously planned rubberized asphalt paving for this project.
- Diamond grinding involves the use of specialized machines with diamond-tipped blades on rotating drums, which remove a thin layer of concrete roadway while creating small grooves to limit vehicle tire noise. This process leaves the roadway surface with a consistent, smooth texture.
- On July 9, ADOT held a virtual meeting with community members and representatives from the Federal Highway Administration to discuss sound walls at the Loop 101 and 16th St. Neighbors expressed concerns that a new sound wall was not being added at the southwest corner of 16th St. ADOT has committed to working with the neighbors to conduct additional noise testing to see if a wall is warranted when the construction project is completed.
Interstate 17 Frontage Road Drainage Improvement
This project will be constructing improvements to the cross-street drainage system along the I-17 frontage road between Greenway Road and Dunlap Avenue. The purpose of the project is to improve the drainage facilities that remove storm runoff from the Greenway, Thunderbird, Cactus, and Peoria cross streets, helping to reduce the potential for flooding at the I-17 overpasses.
The improvements will include a new, gravity-powered storm drain system, utilizing various sizes of concrete pipes and new drainage basins at Thunderbird Road, and the removal of the existing pump stations from the cross streets.
Construction is scheduled to begin January 2020 and is expected to take two years to complete.
Update:
- The southbound I-17 frontage road between Peoria and Dunlap avenues is closed for approximately four months starting March 17. Southbound I-17 on- and off-ramps in the area will remain open at this time. Future around-the-clock closures of other sections of the north or southbound I-17 frontage roads will be needed as the installation of pipelines advances. Drivers should plan on using alternate routes, including 19th and 35th avenues.
- The ADOT project team will maintain access to homes and businesses while the frontage road closures are in place. If a section of frontage road is closed, alternate routes may include travel on local streets in the area.
Interstate 17 - Indian School Traffic Interchange Study
ADOT is conducting a study to improve traffic flow and safety at I-17 and Indian School Road. The study area encompasses Indian School Road between 19th and 31st avenues and I-17 from approximately one-half mile south and one-half mile north of Indian School Road
Approximately 50,000 vehicles use east- and westbound Indian School Road at I-17 per day. This volume is 40 percent higher than on Thomas Road at I-17 (one mile south) and 25 percent higher than on Camelback Road at I-17 (one mile north). Traffic congestion levels on Indian School Road at I-17 are projected to continue increasing.
After evaluating options for a new traffic interchange in this location, a three-level diamond interchange was advanced as the Recommended Build Alternative. If constructed, this interchange would include:
- A flyover bridge along Indian School Road to allow east-west through traffic to bypass the intersections at the I-17 ramps and frontage roads
- New roadways approaching the flyover bridge with embankments and retaining walls
- A reconstructed and widened Indian School Road to accommodate the flyover bridge and new approaches
- Two new pedestrian bridges - one north and one south of Indian School Road - to allow pedestrians to cross I-17 safely
Construction is scheduled to begin in late summer 2021 and last 18 to 24 months.
Interstate 10 - Broadway Curve
The I-10 Broadway Curve project is planned to improve a segment of I-10 between the I-10/Interstate 17 (I-17) Split Traffic Interchange and the South Mountain Freeway/Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway State Route 202 near Pecos Road. The project encompasses one of the most heavily traveled segments of freeway in the Valley. Traffic volumes within this 11-mile section of I-10 exceed 250,000 vehicles per day and include vital connections to I-17, State Route 143, US-60, and State Route 202.
The I-10 Broadway Curve project is currently in the preliminary design phase and a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) has been released for review. After ADOT completes the Environmental Assessment, the project is estimated to begin design in the fall of 2020. The procurement process to select a design-build developer team is underway.
The proposed improvements being studied include:
- Adding general purpose and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes
- Adding a collector-distributor road system to reduce the number of lane changes on the freeway
- Improving connections between I-10 and the State Route 143 and Broadway Road to improve HOV lane connections
- Improving connections of I-10 and US 60 (Superstition Freeway)
- Constructing new bridges to accommodate new interchange facilities and additional lanes
- Building retaining and sound walls
- Constructing pedestrian bridge crossings to improve pedestrian access across the freeway
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring or early summer of 2021.
Update:
- On August 11, three project proposals were submitted to ADOT. The three proposing teams are: Kiewit/ HDR, Pulice/FNF/Flatiron (PFF), Granite/Sundt/Parsons (AZ Mobility Partners).
- City of Phoenix technical staff will participate with ADOT in reviewing and ranking the proposals. It is expected that a preferred proposer will be selected in October/November 2020.
Interstate 10 Deck Park (Hance Park) Tunnel Repair
The Deck Park Tunnel is an underpass that carries the I-10 freeway beneath downtown Phoenix between 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street. The tunnel consists of a series of nineteen side-by-side bridge structures. Construction of the facility began in 1983 and opened to traffic on Aug. 10, 1990. The tunnel carries approximately 230,000 vehicle trips per day and provides a critical link for regional connectivity and mobility.
Leaks in the ceiling structure of the Deck Park Tunnel have occurred in the past and continue to appear. The water infiltration caused by the leaks can lead to deterioration of the tunnel infrastructure and impacts the ventilation and electrical systems, which could force closure of the tunnel to traffic. There is also concern that any damage could produce a need for repairs that would require excavation of Margaret T. Hance Park, which is undergoing a major, $100 million revitalization expected to begin in March 2020.
ADOT, MAG and the City of Phoenix initiated an I-10 Deck Park Tunnel Waterproofing Study in May 2019 because of concern with the integrity of the tunnel. The goal of the study was to evaluate the current water-tightness of the tunnel structure and provide recommendations that minimize the potential for significant leak-related problems for the next 25 years.
The study concluded in August 2019 and recommended that all joints that have not been repaired in the last five years be replaced, which comprises 15 of the 19 total joints. ADOT intends on working closely with the City of Phoenix to coordinate construction activities of the joint work with the Hance Park revitalization project to minimize cost and public disturbance.
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2020.
- Repairs to Interstate-10 tunnel joints located under the west side of the park property are complete, and crews continue the process of installing geofoam to develop the escarpment that borders the play area and curves through this side of the park. Geofoam provides a lightweight fill that is necessary to change the park’s elevation, while managing weight restrictions for the portions of the park that are over the I-10 tunnel.
- Work to repair I-10 tunnel joints under the Japanese Friendship Garden started in July. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Haydon Building Corp and ADOT are working closely with representatives from the Garden to coordinate this work and minimize the impact. Following the joint repairs, the Japanese Friendship Garden will be returned to its pre-construction condition
Interstate 17 - Central Avenue Bridge Reconstruction
The scope of this project is to replace the existing I-17 and Central Avenue bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1962 and is nearing the end of its useful service life. The existing vertical clearance of 13 feet, 11 inches over Central Avenue does not meet current design standards, prohibiting high-profile vehicles from using Central Avenue beneath the bridge, and cannot accommodate the Valley Metro South Central Light Rail Extension. The bridge will be widened to accommodate auxiliary lanes between successive ramps on I-17. The project includes new I-17 roadway approaches, retaining walls, FMS improvements, lighting improvements, drainage improvements, and signing and striping.
Construction began in April 2020 and is expected to be completed in fall 2021.
Update:
- Currently, there are lane restrictions on I-17 in both directions as work continues on the bridge replacement at Central Avenue. North and southbound I-17 are narrowed to two lanes (left lane closed) between Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the City Manager’s Office.