I-10 westbound traffic near Eloy diverted as safety project progresses
Dec 5, 2018, 5:15 PM | Updated: Dec 6, 2018, 1:14 pm
PHOENIX – As part of a project to improve safety on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, around 4 miles of westbound traffic near Eloy was diverted to new lanes Thursday, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.
The new lanes, which run east of the current roadway, start at milepost 213 east of Picacho Highway and reconnect with the existing I-10 near milepost 209 at Sunshine Boulevard.
The eastbound lanes will be switched in about a month, and crews will demolish the current lanes and build a new road with three lanes in each direction.
There are currently two lanes each way in that area.
A steady stream of traffic on the new WB lanes of I-10 at Picacho. The lanes opened about 3:30 a.m. EB traffic will move to the new lanes in about a month. pic.twitter.com/SaiiaADgPW
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 6, 2018
The widening of I-10 is in conjunction with a project to install a dust detection and warning system that will include overhead message boards and variable speed limits to slow drivers in dangerous conditions.
A new interchange at I-10 and State Route 87 in Casa Grande also is in the works.
When the projects are finished — completion is scheduled for late summer of 2019 — there will be three lanes in each direction between Tucson and State Route 387 in Casa Grande.