I-10 Study: Loop 202 to State Route 387

Study Area

This study is focused on the 26-mile section of I-10 between the Loop 202 interchange south of Phoenix to just south of the State Route (SR) 387 interchange near Casa Grande. This section of I-10 has been labeled as the Wild Horse Pass Corridor. It is the last remaining segment of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson that has only two lanes in each direction.

The I-10 bridges over the Gila River are part of a separate ADOT project that is excluded from this study but closely coordinated with the Community. For more information on the I-10 Bridge Project, please click here.

Why Here, Why Now?

Over the last decade, ADOT has been expanding the capacity of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson in segments. As mentioned above, I-10 consists of three lanes in each direction between SR 387 near Casa Grande and Tucson. That leaves the 26 miles of I-10 across the Gila River Indian Community as the only remaining stretch with two lanes in each direction.

This segment of I-10 is critical for Arizona’s economy, as it links the state’s largest metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson while also providing a key link for the national and international movement of freight. Arizonans use this route to commute to and from Phoenix daily from rural communities. Locally, the route also serves the Gila River Indian Community by providing key connections to employment, medical, educational and other necessary services both within and outside of the Community.

Events

In collaboration with the Gila River Indian Community, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Design Concept Report (DCR) for the Interstate 10 (I-10) Study: Loop 202 to State Route 387 (SR 387).

Three in-person and one virtual public hearing will be held to provide an overview of the draft EA and DCR, share ADOT’s preliminary recommendation and accept public comment. The same information will be presented at each meeting.

Public Hearings Agenda Schedule

IN-PERSON PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA*

• 5:30 – 6 p.m. — Open House
• 6 – 6:30 p.m. — Formal Presentation
• 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Formal Public Comments/Open House

*At the Sept. 15 hearing at District 4, the presentation will be continuously repeated and the open house and formal comment period will be available throughout the hearing.

Virtual Public Hearing Agenda**

• 5:30 p.m. — Formal Presentation
• 6 – 6:15 p.m. — Q&A
• 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. — Formal Public Comments
• 7:30 – 8 p.m. — Formal Presentation
• 8 – 8:15 p.m. — Q&A
• 8:15 – 9 p.m. — Formal Public Comments

**As a part of the virtual public hearing, we are allowing two opportunities to hear the presentation, provide formal comment and ask questions.

Funding

Improving I-10 across the Gila River Indian Community is a project of regional significance for Arizona. ADOT, MAG, BIA, FHWA and the Gila River Indian Community continue to partner to deliver this important project, including efforts to secure the necessary funding. The improvements for this 26-mile corridor are about $990 million (including the Gila River Bridge replacement project).

To date, about $640 million has been allocated to the corridor by the State and MAG, which includes the recently approved $400 million as part of the State Budget for fiscal year 2023. Leveraging this state and local funding, ADOT applied for a federal MEGA grant to close the gap of approximately $360 million. If successful, the combination of state, local and federal funds will allow project construction to begin as quickly as possible without budgetary constraint delays

Note: All values above expressed in Fiscal Year 2024 dollars

Funding Sources