There’s a lot of RTA-related construction activity right now, which is great in the long term but could put the brakes on your commute in the short term.
As some projects wrap up and other get started, you may find yourself in need of alternative routes around town.
Sunset Links
Last month, the final phase of the Sunset Links project was finished and the bridge that connects Silverbell Road to Interstate 10 and River Road has fully opened to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
The final phase of the project constructed a new road connecting I-10 to River Road, including a bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad and the Rillito River. The project has four lanes with a median, bike lanes, sidewalks and a multi-use path. The project was combined with combined with the ADOT I-10 Reconstruction between Ruthrauff and Ina Roads project.
“It will aid north Tucson residents in their commutes to the freeway, reduce traffic congestion on Orange Grove and Ruthrauff Roads and provide considerably to the city and the freeway for District 3 residents living along the Silverbell corridor, west of the Santa Cruz River,” explained Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Jen Allen.
The first phase of the project was completed in 2017 by expanding Sunset Road to a two-lane road with a continuous center turn lane and a bridge over the Santa Cruz River. The bridge has a shared-use path along the southern edge and a pedestrian sidewalk along its northern edge.
Downtown Links
The project to connect Barraza-Aviation Parkway to Interstate 10 partially opened to motorists in May and most aspects of the project were fully opened this month.
The final portion of the project eliminated one of the most hazardous railroad crossings in the state and end long train-related delays on St. Mary’s Road by constructing a tunnel to go under the railroad tracks.
“It was truly one of the more unique and complex projects in the whole (RTA) plan,” said Pima Association of Governments Director of Transportation Services Rick Ellis. “It was a downtown urban project trying to get around, go underneath and provide a grade separation at the railroad tracks, as well as improve some of the existing crossings that were going to remain in place.”
The entire project is a 1.3-mile long, multimodal corridor connecting Barraza-Aviation Parkway to Interstate 10 through a four-lane roadway with bike lanes, sidewalks and a separate multiuse path. Improvements included construction of a new Sixth Street alignment, drainage improvements to protect a large portion of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year flood plain and the Ninth Avenue deck plaza.
Grant Road Phases 3 and 4
Phases 3 and 4 of the Grant Road Improvement Project are progressing and are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
“They are moving along very well on that and we will be done by the end of the year for sure,” Ellis said.
The project from Swan to Sparkman includes additional travel lanes, new and wider sidewalks, more signalized crosswalks, improved bicycle lanes and enhanced landscaping. Safety features include bus pullouts, drainage improvements, a median and managed access to businesses.
Although the road has full access, most of the construction area is down to one lane in each direction with slower speed limits to protect workers.
Valencia Road, Kolb Road to Houghton Road
Another project on target to finish this year is Valencia Road, Kolb to Houghton. This project widened Valencia Road to a six-lane parkway with bike lanes, sidewalks and drainage for all-weather access. Most of the paving work has been completed and crews are finishing up medians, landscaping, signing and striping.
“That will complete the Valencia corridor in terms of capacity enhancements,” said Ellis.
The project is expected to be completed this summer or early fall.
Grant Road UPRR Underpass
Improvements will include providing three lanes in each direction on Grant Road under the Union Pacific Railroad, along with sidewalks.
“We’re able to expedite that project and utilize double shifts, multiple crews and take advantage of a closure activity which will help us deliver that in a quicker pace,” Ellis said.
The project is using a full closure of Grant Road, between the I-10 westbound Frontage Road and Flowing Wells Road. The westbound I-10 Frontage Road, south of Grant Road, will not allow right turns onto Grant Road. Eastbound Grant Road at the I-10 underpass will be restricted to one left turn lane to access westbound I-10.
Grant Road is expected to re-open in late August or early September.
Upcoming Projects
22nd Street Bridge
Demolition is well underway on this multi-year project. Crews have removed sections on both ends of the bridge and are preparing to set the first bridge footings to be poured by the end of July. Demolition will begin later on the portion of the bridge over the railroad tracks.
22nd Street will be closed from Tucson Blvd. to and Cherrybell Stravenue, including access to northbound Aviation Parkway. Eastbound turns from Aviation Parkway onto 22nd Street will not be permitted. The Aviation Bikeway will also be closed both north and south of the bridge.
Houghton, 22nd to Irvington
Preconstruction work continues on Houghton Road from 22nd Street to Irvington Road, most notably utility relocation and final coordination with the Corps of Engineers. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
The project will widen Houghton to six lanes with a raised median and will include new bike and pedestrian amenities, improved lighting and safety upgrades. The bridge over the Pantano Wash also will be widened.
Silverbell, Goret Road to El Camino del Cerro
A complex project that is heading towards construction. Due to the large number of potential waterways and culturally significant artifacts, a lot of work needed to be done before construction.
Right-of-way is acquisition and utility relocation and permitting with the federal government are complete, while the archeological and cultural work is near completion.
The project has some difficult stretches where the roadway has to be built over areas with washes and arroyos that often flood.
When completed this segment of Silverbell will become a four-lane divided roadway with a raised median, bike lanes, sidewalks and a multi-use path.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year.
Valencia, Interstate 19 to Alvernon
The last of the Valencia projects from the original RTA plan, this stretch is already at six lanes, so capacity is not a big issue. Safety and intersection improvements will get the bulk of the attention. The idea is to make the four-mile stretch of road safer, as well as improve traffic flow through upgraded signal technology.
There will also be some bike and pedestrian improvements on the west end of the project near some heavy residential areas.
