Article: Explosive Growth of East-area Phoenix City Freeways

A good article summing up what has been accomplished this past year
(including the completion of the San Tan portion of the 202) as well as
what to look forward to next year (including completing the US 60
widening projects and adding about 13 miles of HOV lanes on the 101).

http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/1228sev-freewaysyear1228Z6.html

"It was a historic 2006 of sorts for Southeast Valley commuters and
transportation officials.

The year brought the longest stretch of Valley freeway ever to open at
one time, when the Santan Freeway section of Loop 202 was unveiled in
full to drivers in June.

It meant 12 fresh miles of freeway and connecting 25 miles of Loop 202
south of U.S. 60, linking southeast Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler with
Phoenix and beyond.

In addition, two more ramps from the towering U.S. 60-Loop 202
interchange in east Mesa opened to traffic in November. And this year,
Loop 202 between Van Buren Street and Alma School Road received
rubberized asphalt, bringing the noise-reducing surface to Tempe and
Mesa.

"It really is a culmination of 20-some years of planning and working at
it," said Eric Anderson, transportation director for the Maricopa
Association of Governments, the region's planning body.

State lawmakers and the governor also set aside $300 million statewide
to accelerate freeway projects, some of which are in the Southeast
Valley.

Next year, drivers will have more highly anticipated presents to unwrap
in the form of new or wider freeways. The projects, all of which are
destined for summer 2007 completions and total more than $210 million,
include:


· A wider Superstition Freeway stretch of U.S. 60 between Gilbert and
Power roads. The freeway's capacity will be doubled to six lanes in
each direction and will include rubberized asphalt and noise barriers.


· Finishing the $67.4 million section of Loop 202 between University
Drive and Southern Avenue in north Mesa. It will feature six lanes and
interchanges at University Drive and Broadway Road. It's the
second-to-last piece of the Red Mountain Freeway puzzle. The final
section, between Power Road and University Drive, is targeted for a
2008 opening.


· Completing the massive Southeast Valley freeway stack known as the
SuperRedTan, where U.S. 60 and Loop 202 converge. A couple connector
ramps on the $71.4 million interchange will open. Other project
particulars include widening of U.S. 60 between Power and Crismon roads
and completing Loop 202 from Baseline Road north to Southern Avenue.

Officials see the freeway improvement as progress in the region's
ongoing battle against congestion, even as some people call for more to
be done.

"I'm optimistic there will be additional steps in the right direction
to follow up on this year's project accelerations," Arizona Department
of Transportation Director Victor Mendez said.

New and wider freeways also will provide options for drivers in areas
that have lacked freeway access, officials say. Anderson, of MAG, cited
northeast Mesa as an example and said that drivers may see less traffic
on U.S. 60 when more of Loop 202 opens in that area.

Surface street congestion also is expected to decrease somewhat over
the next few years.

"Every improvement we make benefits the regional system to some
extent," Anderson said.

Projects that will get started next year include:


· Adding carpool lanes to Loop 101 between Princess Drive and (Red
Mountain) Loop 202 in Tempe.


· Buying right of way for the future Williams Gateway Freeway in
southeast Mesa near Williams Gateway Airport. It'll jut off Loop 202
and run five miles east to Meridian Road. Construction is still at
least 10 years away.


· Design of carpool lanes for Loop 101 between Baseline Road in Mesa
and Loop 202 in Chandler."

.