For Immediate ReleaseContact: Kelly Taft, MAG, 602-452-5020
PHOENIX (December 4, 2018)—Loop 101 drivers in the North Valley will soon see their commute get easier, thanks to a recent vote by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). Last week, the MAG Regional Council voted to approve a $225.5 million project that includes additional lanes on the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) between I-17 and Pima Road. The project is slated to take two years.
The project will address bottlenecks along the Loop 101 at I-17, Cave Creek Road, State Route 51, and Tatum Boulevard. Portions of the corridor carry more than 215,000 vehicles per day, and volumes are expected to increase. The project also provides important east-west connectivity. Scottsdale Airpark represents the second-largest employment center in the region, with much of the workforce using this freeway daily. The Loop 101 also provides access to other major freeways, job centers, and regionally significant recreation, entertainment and tourist attractions.
“This project is just one of several critically planned transportation improvements being constructed under Proposition 400 and is another example of MAG’s commitment to improving the lives of Valley residents through regional transportation planning,” says MAG Chair Gail Barney, mayor of Queen Creek. “A smoother, hassle-free commute means people can travel to work and home to their families faster and more efficiently.”
The project will be executed through a “design-build” delivery process, meaning the same contractor team who designs the improvements will also build them, resulting in a much faster construction timeline. The entire project is expected to take about two years to complete.
The project will include additional lanes in each direction between I-17 and Pima Road. The project also will include quiet pavement (rubberized asphalt overlay), drainage improvements, technological upgrades, and other improvements. The Miller Road arterial crossing in Scottsdale also has been integrated into the project.
The State Transportation Board is expected to consider the Arizona Department of Transportation’s recommendation on awarding the contract at its December 21st meeting.