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AZ 87/I-10 junction reconstruction

Started by Max Rockatansky, February 23, 2018, 11:24:11 PM

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Max Rockatansky

I found this new video on the ADOT Youtube site about the new junction of AZ 87/I-10:



I seem to recall this project being touted years ago when I lived in Phoenix circa 2012-13.  I believe that Camino Adelante Road (which I seem to recall was AZ 84) is being demolished in part of this project for the new lanes of I-10.  Pretty much of what was downtown Pichaco was demolished in the last couple years which can be seen on the GSV by comparing the 2011 and 2015 images:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7102747,-111.4895199,3a,75y,289.66h,87.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4GeZkz0D1t2x1eSIKN1Ecg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en


DJStephens

about time.  That area has architecture and design features that appear to date from the late fifties/early sixties.   Of course there is no de-icing chemicals in winter, so a structure could almost last forever.   Snow in that area is very rare.   A fairly seedy area, a giant detention facility lies just to the north, in Florence.   

Roadwarriors79

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 23, 2018, 11:24:11 PM
I found this new video on the ADOT Youtube site about the new junction of AZ 87/I-10:



I seem to recall this project being touted years ago when I lived in Phoenix circa 2012-13.  I believe that Camino Adelante Road (which I seem to recall was AZ 84) is being demolished in part of this project for the new lanes of I-10.  Pretty much of what was downtown Pichaco was demolished in the last couple years which can be seen on the GSV by comparing the 2011 and 2015 images:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7102747,-111.4895199,3a,75y,289.66h,87.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4GeZkz0D1t2x1eSIKN1Ecg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I think when this project is done, most of I-10 will be at least 3 lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Tucson. If/when widening ever occurs on the Gila River Reservation is anyone's guess.

DJStephens

#3
The two sections still left - are this project area and the Gila reservation.   To be perfectly correct, though, there are three four lane sections still left, in between Tucson and Phoenix. 
1. This project area I-10 and state Rt. 87,
2. the section in Casa Grande, where the ancient I-8/I-10 interchange is.  Anything programmed for that, believe it is currently a "trumpet" interchange.  The partial interchange directly north of that is "Jimmie Kerr Blvd", and it features a narrow cross section on it's overpass, and a tight off ramp due to the rail road tracks there.
3. The Gila Reservation section, also by far the longest four lane section left - 24? miles

Six lane sections are on both sides of these three segments, with most widening done to the outside.  Lane shifting to the inside was done to get underneath original pre-existing over passes.  Which likely will be replaced and the main alignment straightened to the outside, as the original four span bridges are replaced with two spans with greater horizontal and vertical clearances.  Which may be decades in the future, as the overpasses see little use, other than local agricultural use, and see no deicing chemicals in winter.     

kdk

Quote from: DJStephens on February 26, 2018, 05:45:26 AM
The two sections still left - are this project area and the Gila reservation.   To be perfectly correct, though, there are three four lane sections still left, in between Tucson and Phoenix. 
1. This project area I-10 and state Rt. 87,
2. the section in Casa Grande, where the ancient I-8/I-10 interchange is.  Anything programmed for that, believe it is currently a "trumpet" interchange.  The partial interchange directly north of that is "Jimmie Kerr Blvd", and it features a narrow cross section on it's overpass, and a tight off ramp due to the rail road tracks there.
3. The Gila Reservation section, also by far the longest four lane section left - 24? miles

Six lane sections are on both sides of these three segments, with most widening done to the outside.  Lane shifting to the inside was done to get underneath original pre-existing over passes.  Which likely will be replaced and the main alignment straightened to the outside, as the original four span bridges are replaced with two spans with greater horizontal and vertical clearances.  Which may be decades in the future, as the overpasses see little use, other than local agricultural use, and see no deicing chemicals in winter.   

The I-8 interchange to Jimmie Kerr area will begin soon as well.
http://www.pinalcentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/area_news/widening-i--at-earley-road-still-slated/article_94293c28-371c-54ca-ae4a-0d47cff62361.html

So it's looking like we are about 2 years away from being down to just the Gila section being the last four lane area.  In addition, the northernmost 8 miles from Riggs to Maricopa Road will be getting an auxiliary third lane- similar to how a 3rd lane was added a few years ago from Wild Horse Pass to Maricopa Road. 

The last 16 miles though have no plans still unless the tribe becomes more open to negotiations.



DJStephens

#5
Drove through the area yesterday, on way back from Phoenix.   Took quite a few photos.   Appears the entire I-10 cross section is to be moved closer to the Union Pacific rail road.   Crews were working on the reinforcement  cages for the tapered piers for the new state road 87 overpasses of both the rail road and new I-10 alignment.  That makes sense, as the entire new section can be built, north of the existing ancient section, without disturbing it during construction.   So that explains the entire acquisition and demolition of downtown Picacho.   

Exit58

Quote from: kdk on March 06, 2018, 06:18:25 PM
So it's looking like we are about 2 years away from being down to just the Gila section being the last four lane area.  In addition, the northernmost 8 miles from Riggs to Maricopa Road will be getting an auxiliary third lane- similar to how a 3rd lane was added a few years ago from Wild Horse Pass to Maricopa Road.

Hopefully they're adding an aux lane in addtion to that pre-existing aux lane from Wild Horse to Queen Creek. Having gone to Maricopa to visit friends, that lane is basically treated as a decel for traffic getting off there. And in rush hour, it's not uncommon for the ramp to be backed up with people turning right. A dedicated merge lane needs to be added from EB 10 to SB 347, and improvements need to be made to the barrier there at the exit. It's hard in a reasonably sized sedan to see traffic coming EB on Queen Creek onto SB 347.

We'll see if Gila is willing to play ball. I know Pinal is trying to widen SR 347 as well, but they believe it can be done within existing ROW.

kdk

Quote from: Exit58 on April 14, 2018, 05:26:12 PM
Quote from: kdk on March 06, 2018, 06:18:25 PM
So it's looking like we are about 2 years away from being down to just the Gila section being the last four lane area.  In addition, the northernmost 8 miles from Riggs to Maricopa Road will be getting an auxiliary third lane- similar to how a 3rd lane was added a few years ago from Wild Horse Pass to Maricopa Road.

Hopefully they're adding an aux lane in addtion to that pre-existing aux lane from Wild Horse to Queen Creek. Having gone to Maricopa to visit friends, that lane is basically treated as a decel for traffic getting off there. And in rush hour, it's not uncommon for the ramp to be backed up with people turning right. A dedicated merge lane needs to be added from EB 10 to SB 347, and improvements need to be made to the barrier there at the exit. It's hard in a reasonably sized sedan to see traffic coming EB on Queen Creek onto SB 347.

We'll see if Gila is willing to play ball. I know Pinal is trying to widen SR 347 as well, but they believe it can be done within existing ROW.

The article I saw just mentioned an aux lane between 347 and Riggs Road.  My guess is we'll just see a lane continuing from the EB ramp off 347 to the Riggs exit ramp.  That can be done within the existing ROW.  Adding another lane from WHP to 347 in addition to the aux lane probably cannot, although it did seem like there was room in the median to add an inside lane for part of it.  I was shocked just a few years back driving EB on I-10 around rush hour and seeing the road go down to two lanes before the 347 exit before that extra auxiliary lane was added.  With all the growth in the City of Maricopa I couldn't understand how it took that long to add at least that.   

I don't see Gila trying to play ball anytime soon with ADOT.  They got their improvements on I-10 in time for their new casino years ago, so unless they get the rest of their long term "wish list" nothing will change.  May take some kind of federal agreement with funding to get them to reconsider IMO.

DJStephens

Small article with picture in yesterdays Arizona Star.  Retro-ish picture of Bidwell type paver laying down the new west bound concrete lanes for the re-aligned Interstate in the Picacho area.    Guessing it will be covered with rubberized asphalt for noise control following completion of that project. 

Zonie

Some Twitter photos from the construction site.  You can see the current alignment of I-10 in the background.

https://twitter.com/AdotHerrmann/status/996165683443453952

Zonie


Exit58

Quote from: kdk on April 19, 2018, 05:49:25 PM
The article I saw just mentioned an aux lane between 347 and Riggs Road.  My guess is we'll just see a lane continuing from the EB ramp off 347 to the Riggs exit ramp.  That can be done within the existing ROW.  Adding another lane from WHP to 347 in addition to the aux lane probably cannot, although it did seem like there was room in the median to add an inside lane for part of it.  I was shocked just a few years back driving EB on I-10 around rush hour and seeing the road go down to two lanes before the 347 exit before that extra auxiliary lane was added.  With all the growth in the City of Maricopa I couldn't understand how it took that long to add at least that.   

I don't see Gila trying to play ball anytime soon with ADOT.  They got their improvements on I-10 in time for their new casino years ago, so unless they get the rest of their long term "wish list" nothing will change.  May take some kind of federal agreement with funding to get them to reconsider IMO.

Hopefully Gila will be willing to work with Pinal. I'm just curious, is there any legal reason that ADOT can't just block off access to 347 from Riggs? With the numerous accidents that happen there, and that being the main cause of traffic backup, ADOT could say it's for "˜safety reasons', no? Unless ADOT/Pinal/Maricopa (County)/GRIC come to some sort of agreement to replace that intersection with an interchange, I don't see any other way to improve the road.

Last time I was down there a few weeks ago, I saw building happening in almost every subdivision. At this rate I see the City of Maricopa ballooning to 53k+ in the next few years, maybe sooner, and that roadway is already at capacity.

kdk

Quote from: Exit58 on May 16, 2018, 02:39:56 PM
Quote from: kdk on April 19, 2018, 05:49:25 PM
The article I saw just mentioned an aux lane between 347 and Riggs Road.  My guess is we'll just see a lane continuing from the EB ramp off 347 to the Riggs exit ramp.  That can be done within the existing ROW.  Adding another lane from WHP to 347 in addition to the aux lane probably cannot, although it did seem like there was room in the median to add an inside lane for part of it.  I was shocked just a few years back driving EB on I-10 around rush hour and seeing the road go down to two lanes before the 347 exit before that extra auxiliary lane was added.  With all the growth in the City of Maricopa I couldn't understand how it took that long to add at least that.   

I don't see Gila trying to play ball anytime soon with ADOT.  They got their improvements on I-10 in time for their new casino years ago, so unless they get the rest of their long term "wish list" nothing will change.  May take some kind of federal agreement with funding to get them to reconsider IMO.

Hopefully Gila will be willing to work with Pinal. I'm just curious, is there any legal reason that ADOT can't just block off access to 347 from Riggs? With the numerous accidents that happen there, and that being the main cause of traffic backup, ADOT could say it's for "˜safety reasons', no? Unless ADOT/Pinal/Maricopa (County)/GRIC come to some sort of agreement to replace that intersection with an interchange, I don't see any other way to improve the road.

Last time I was down there a few weeks ago, I saw building happening in almost every subdivision. At this rate I see the City of Maricopa ballooning to 53k+ in the next few years, maybe sooner, and that roadway is already at capacity.

I don't think the Gilas would be too happy with blocking access off Riggs/347 is mainly why.  That's the main road connecting the west side of their reservation with the central areas.  Their casino shuttle runs several times per day between the properties and use it as well.  Blocking this would add about 10 more miles to that.

A full interchange would be needed there, even without an accident the Riggs light seems to really cause backups anyway. 

I do see though with the 202 opening that the traffic counts on Riggs will drop tremendously.  Most of the Riggs traffic west of 347 is traffic bypassing Phoenix.

Great Lakes Roads


707

#14
I'm glad they're getting this done, but it's sad to see ADOT bust up Camino Adelante. That and the north frontage road were once part of SR 84 and the Broadway of America. I was actually hoping to travel that short section to say I've done it, but looks like I really missed the boat.

There's a BOA Association map in Jeff Jensen's US 80 book showing the BOA taking SR 84 and SR 87 between Tucson and Phoenix. There also seems to be a reproduction BOA Association strip map with limited pictures online showing the route indeed taking 84 and 87 in Arizona.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/246058645/broadway-of-america-map-archival-giclee?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=texas%20california%20ny&ref=sr_gallery-1-11

bing101


JKRhodes

Quote from: Exit58 on April 14, 2018, 05:26:12 PM
Quote from: kdk on March 06, 2018, 06:18:25 PM
So it's looking like we are about 2 years away from being down to just the Gila section being the last four lane area.  In addition, the northernmost 8 miles from Riggs to Maricopa Road will be getting an auxiliary third lane- similar to how a 3rd lane was added a few years ago from Wild Horse Pass to Maricopa Road.

Hopefully they're adding an aux lane in addtion to that pre-existing aux lane from Wild Horse to Queen Creek. Having gone to Maricopa to visit friends, that lane is basically treated as a decel for traffic getting off there. And in rush hour, it's not uncommon for the ramp to be backed up with people turning right. A dedicated merge lane needs to be added from EB 10 to SB 347, and improvements need to be made to the barrier there at the exit. It's hard in a reasonably sized sedan to see traffic coming EB on Queen Creek onto SB 347.

We'll see if Gila is willing to play ball. I know Pinal is trying to widen SR 347 as well, but they believe it can be done within existing ROW.

I'd love to see a two-lane flyover for N/B 347 traffic to get to I-10, and at least two dedicated exit lanes for E/B I-10 traffic to go south on 347.

ADOT doesn't seem too keen on building flyovers to serve arterial roads, so it seems unlikely.

Still, it's better than it was. I remember the setup for years after Maricopa's population exploded, Eastbound the freeway dropped from 3 lanes to 2 right next to Firebird Raceway, only to have a third lane open up  less than 1/4 mile downstream for the 347 exit.

kdk

Quote from: kdk on May 29, 2018, 05:06:26 PM
Quote from: Exit58 on May 16, 2018, 02:39:56 PM
Quote from: kdk on April 19, 2018, 05:49:25 PM
The article I saw just mentioned an aux lane between 347 and Riggs Road.  My guess is we'll just see a lane continuing from the EB ramp off 347 to the Riggs exit ramp.  That can be done within the existing ROW.  Adding another lane from WHP to 347 in addition to the aux lane probably cannot, although it did seem like there was room in the median to add an inside lane for part of it.  I was shocked just a few years back driving EB on I-10 around rush hour and seeing the road go down to two lanes before the 347 exit before that extra auxiliary lane was added.  With all the growth in the City of Maricopa I couldn't understand how it took that long to add at least that.   

I don't see Gila trying to play ball anytime soon with ADOT.  They got their improvements on I-10 in time for their new casino years ago, so unless they get the rest of their long term "wish list" nothing will change.  May take some kind of federal agreement with funding to get them to reconsider IMO.

Hopefully Gila will be willing to work with Pinal. I'm just curious, is there any legal reason that ADOT can't just block off access to 347 from Riggs? With the numerous accidents that happen there, and that being the main cause of traffic backup, ADOT could say it's for "˜safety reasons', no? Unless ADOT/Pinal/Maricopa (County)/GRIC come to some sort of agreement to replace that intersection with an interchange, I don't see any other way to improve the road.

Last time I was down there a few weeks ago, I saw building happening in almost every subdivision. At this rate I see the City of Maricopa ballooning to 53k+ in the next few years, maybe sooner, and that roadway is already at capacity.

I don't think the Gilas would be too happy with blocking access off Riggs/347 is mainly why.  That's the main road connecting the west side of their reservation with the central areas.  Their casino shuttle runs several times per day between the properties and use it as well.  Blocking this would add about 10 more miles to that.

A full interchange would be needed there, even without an accident the Riggs light seems to really cause backups anyway. 

I do see though with the 202 opening that the traffic counts on Riggs will drop tremendously.  Most of the Riggs traffic west of 347 is traffic bypassing Phoenix.

I saw today that Gila and ADOT have agreed to possibly work together now and have a study going to widen the Gila area of I-10.  didn't see this coming so soon.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/pinal-traffic/2018/10/18/study-seeking-improve-23-mile-stretch-interstate-10-approved/1678470002/

DJStephens

There is plenty of room to widen, either to the inside, or outside, with shifting at ancient four or five span overpasses.   To the outside is far preferable, as it would match previously widened stretches to the south.   Of course this section of 10 passes through a sovereign tribal nation, so special conditions apply.

Roadwarriors79

If/when ADOT can widen I-10 within the Gila River Reservation, the freeway will have a minimum of 6 lanes (3 in each direction) from Verrado Way in Buckeye to Kino Parkway in Tucson, a little over 140 miles.



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