Title
Freeway Program Update
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning 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 Proposition 400 half-cent sales tax as well as from state and federal revenue sources. City of Phoenix staff are embedded 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 Planning Subcommittee reflecting project changes as well as new projects.
Interstate 10 (I-10) - Broadway Curve Reconstruction
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 Loop 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 (SR) 143, US-60 and Loop 202.
The proposed improvements include:
- Adding general purpose and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes;
- Adding a collector-distributor (CD) road system to reduce the number of lane changes on the freeway;
- Improving connections between I-10 and the SR 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; and
- Constructing pedestrian bridge crossings to improve pedestrian access across the freeway.
Construction began in late 2021 and is scheduled for completion in 2024.
Update:
- Construction crews placed the first girders for the westbound CD road bridge over Southern Avenue on Sept. 6-7. Two cranes worked in tandem to set each girder in place. Each girder is 123 feet long and weighs 110,000 pounds. With seven girders now in place, crews will begin working on the bridge deck, which is the part of the bridge motorists drive across. Once completed, the new CD roads will ease congestion by separating local traffic from through traffic on the I-10 mainline.
- During the full closure of westbound I-10 on Sept. 10, crews welded metal decking and installed the overhangs of the new Broadway Road bridge.
- In the early morning of Aug. 20, workers poured the new 48th Street bridge deck over eastbound I-10, next to the current bridge which remains open to traffic. Crews poured 567 yards of concrete using two concrete pumper trucks. The entire pour process took approximately 12 hours.
- In late August, workers installed four Dynamic Message Signs: two between 24th and 40th streets, and two between Baseline and Elliot roads. These signs will display travel time estimates, traffic conditions and safety messages. In all, crews will install 16 new DMS along the 11-mile corridor.
- Construction will continue throughout the project area, requiring full highway closures on weekends through early November. Also, expect overnight lane and ramp restrictions throughout the project area Mondays through Thursdays between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
I-17 Frontage Road Drainage Improvement
This ADOT project will replace the existing pump stations at the I-17 traffic interchanges at Greenway Road, Thunderbird Road, Cactus Road and Peoria Avenue with a gravity storm drain system that will discharge the storm water into the Arizona Canal Diversion Channel (ACDC). The purpose of the project is to improve the drainage facilities that remove storm runoff from the cross streets, helping to reduce the potential for flooding at the I-17 overpasses.
The project includes the installation of 30- to 90-inch diameter reinforced concrete pipe along the I-17 frontage road, two detention basins at the I-17 and Thunderbird Road traffic interchange, pavement replacement on the frontage road, signing, striping, improvements to ADA features within the project area, and removal of the four existing pump stations.
Construction began in January 2020 and is expected to conclude in early 2023.
Loop 101 - I-17 to 75th Avenue Widening
The scope of this project is to add one general purpose lane in each direction to Loop 101/Agua Fria Freeway from I-17 to 75th Avenue. The project includes bridge widening of existing structures to accommodate the new general-purpose lanes. The project work includes diamond grind surface treatment, new concrete pavement, retaining walls, lighting, ADA improvements, drainage improvements, FMS improvements, and signing and striping.
I-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 study 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 began in March 2020.
US-60 (Grand Avenue) - 35th Avenue - Indian School Road Study
ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in coordination with the BNSF Railway, City of Phoenix and MAG, are initiating a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and initial DCR for the US-60 (Grand Avenue), 35th Avenue and Indian School Road intersection.
The study proposes that improvements need to be made to the US-60 corridor functionality, arterial street network multimodal opportunities (e.g., expansion of bicycle lane network), and BNSF Railway corridor capacity. These improvements would reduce traffic congestion, improve pedestrian and vehicular safety and enhance multimodal transportation options.
This project is currently in the predesign stage.
Update:
- MAG, in partnership with ADOT, City of Phoenix, and BNSF, has submitted the US 60/35th Ave/Indian School Road Grade Separation grant application for the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
- The project will leverage planning efforts, including the ongoing ADOT Design Concept Report and Environmental Assessment. Specifically, the Project will maintain the track alignment in its currently location and raise the adjacent 35th Avenue and remove the Indian School Road ramps thereby eliminating both existing at-grade railroad crossings. Poor operations and crash histories at the US 60/35th Ave/Indian School Road intersection have routinely placed this location within the top 25 railroad risk locations in the State.
- The grant request is for $88.69 M in FY 22 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant funds. As part of this investment, MAG is proposing to provide a total match amount of $119.87 M in non-federal funds.
Loop 303 - I-17 to Lake Pleasant Parkway Update
At the request of the City of Phoenix, MAG and ADOT are conducting a DCR Update for Loop 303 from I-17 to Lake Pleasant Parkway. A 2006 DCR identified the ultimate footprint and alignment for Loop 303. The purpose of this project is to prepare a DCR update and environmental document for additional general-purpose lanes in each direction of travel. The update includes establishing new traffic models and developing, evaluating, and costing conceptual alternatives for the improvements including Traffic Interchanges (TIs) at 67th, 51st, and 43rd Avenues, as well as the system interchange at I-17. The existing Loop 303 was constructed to accommodate the future construction of these TIs.
The DCR project was initiated in October 2020 and has been completed.
Phoenix, MAG, and ADOT have agreed to accelerate design and construction of the new TIs at 51st and 43rd Avenues to accommodate the schedule of the new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) facility. Construction of the new TIs will be completed in summer 2023.
Update:
- In Sept. 2022, construction began on the new Loop 303 traffic interchanges at 51st and 43rd avenues. In addition to the new traffic interchanges, the project includes new bridges on Loop 303 over 51st and 43rd avenues, creating a southbound frontage road between 51st and 43rd avenues, drainage improvements, as well as new signals, signs, pavement markings, and lighting. The 51st Avenue interchange is being shifted slightly to the west to accommodate the realignment of 51st Avenue.
I-10/Loop 101 System Interchange
The Arizona Department of Transportation has initiated a study to evaluate improvements to the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) and Interstate 10 system traffic interchange (TI) in the West Valley.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate alternatives to the TI that will enhance regional travel by improving safety, reducing congestion and improving connectivity.
This study will evaluate the following improvements:
- A new Direct High-Occupancy Vehicle ramp within the existing TI that will accommodate travel to/from the north along Loop 101 and to/from the east along I-10.
- A possible new connection between southbound Loop 101 and 91st Avenue. This connection would be separate from the Loop 101/I-10 system TI ramps and may connect to the existing I-10/91st Avenue TI ramps.
- Evaluation of several other traffic interchange locations and connecting arterial roadways for possible improvement within the project area.
Update:
- This project has two public meetings planned: one to present project alternatives (tentatively planned for October 2022); and the second to provide the recommended alternative for the design of the improvements (tentatively planned for early 2023). ADOT will notify the public, stakeholders and residents in the area about the meetings and public comment period through various communication channels.
I-17 Pavement Improvement Project
ADOT has started a pavement improvement project on I-17 between Dunlap Avenue and Deer Valley Road. The purpose of the project is to extend the life of the pavement and to improve safety and the driving experience on the existing roadway. The project includes removing the existing asphalt pavement and using a diamond grinding treatment to provide a smooth and quiet roadway surface. The project requires weekend closures and overnight lane restrictions on the I-17 that will impact travel in the area.
Construction will take approximately 12 months and should be completed in late 2023.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the City Manager’s Office.