Early design work complete for I-10 interchange in Marana

Arizona Daily Star, March 25, 2004
by Sarah Mauet, smauet@azstarnet.com

Marana and the Arizona Department of Transportation have finished preliminary designs for the new $57 million Interstate 10 interchange at Twin Peaks Road and Linda Vista Boulevard.

Marana plans to begin construction on the interchange in 2006 and expects to complete it in 2008.

The new interchange, which will be between the existing Avra Valley Road and Cortaro Road interchanges, will become the quickest route to the freeway for Continental Ranch, Continental Reserve and Dove Mountain residents.

Richard and Sheryl Brown have been looking forward to the new interchange since they bought their Continental Ranch home 10 years ago.

"It takes me about 15 minutes to get to the freeway at 5:30 in the morning," said Sheryl Brown, who lives just a few miles from the Cortaro interchange.

"When we bought the house, we asked when it would come," she said. "We've been waiting for it for a long time."

The Twin Peaks interchange will ease the congestion many of the 10,000 Continental Ranch residents face every day at the Cortaro interchange.

The three design alternatives have bridges crossing the Santa Cruz River, the freeway and the Union Pacific Railroad. An underpass was deemed too expensive. Ramps off the frontage roads will provide access to the freeway. The major difference between the designs is the realignment of El Camino de Mañana and how it connects to Linda Vista Boulevard and I-10.

The price of the road work will be around $28 million, with the cost split between Marana and the Arizona Department of Transportation. An additional $29 million is needed to build the bridge and extend the roads to the freeway, said Farhad Moghimi, town engineer and public works director.

"For the remaining ($29 million), we're pursuing alternatives from the federal government," he said. "We're confident that we can identify funding."

The project is undergoing a federally required environmental assessment.

"There will be federal funding involved in this project and because of that we are making it in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act," said Scott Stapp, an environmental planner.

The design alternatives were unveiled at an open house Monday and Marana residents were asked to give feedback that will be considered before a final design is chosen.

"This is the first time we've come back to the public with information and asked for input," Moghimi said.

° Contact reporter Sarah Mauet at 434-4078 or at smauet@azstarnet.com.

< back to Newspaper Articles