Our bosses at the Arizona Department of Transportation have completed a final environmental-impact statement on the proposed South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix, and a public-review period on the project is open until November 25.
The 22-mile-long freeway, which has been planned since 1985, would be an extension of Loop 202 that would run south of South Mountain. As proposed, the freeway would run west from Interstate 10 along Pecos Road, then turn north and reconnect with I-10 between 55th and 63rd avenues.
"The South Mountain Freeway is the last piece to complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system necessary for high-quality regional mobility," ADOT says in a news release. After the public-review period is over, the final step will be a decision by the Federal Highway Administration. If the FHA approves the project, construction could begin as soon as next year, ADOT says.
You can read the statement and learn more about the project here.
(Photo: Scott Carpentier | South Mountain)