In leaked budget docs, Riggs overpass cash kicked years down the road

Arizona lawmakers are days away from finalizing the state budget and funding for Maricopa’s life-blood highway is at risk.

A 13-page budget document leaked this morning suggests balancing the state’s billion-dollar deficit by axing more than half a billion dollars in spending, to include $49 million in construction funds for the planned Riggs Road overpass.

All the money for the Riggs Road interchange at SR 347, as proposed, move to fiscal year 2028, which begins October 2027.

Also kicked down the road are $108 million for part of the Interstate 10 widening project, but only by a year.

Not dead yet

The leaked documents evoked ire on social media.

“Moved, to me, means cancelled until possibly 2028,” Manfredi wrote in a Facebook post this morning. “Essentially what the state government is saying to you is sit down, be quiet and wait four more years.”

State Rep. Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande) took a more optimistic approach.

“It’s not killed,” she told InMaricopa . “This is a proposed budget, and it doesn’t become final until we vote on it and the governor signs it.”

The money she and Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) earmarked for the overpass “is not only secure, but we also got additional funding,” Martinez said.

Why is it protected? Because passed through the legislature not just as a line item but as a law, Martinez explained.

“The members of the legislature voted on that money and that created a law,” she said. “It’s not going away. There would have to be a law created to make that money lapse.”

Waiting to do some more waiting

The Arizona Department of Transportation presents more problems.

“They are woefully behind, so even if they had access to those funds today, they would still not be able to move forward,” Martinez said.

Construction on the traffic interchange was supposed to begin in late 2026, according to the ADOT website . Moving the budgeted money to fiscal year 2028 means the project could be delayed at least an additional year, depending on when the money and ADOT are both ready, an event akin to planets aligning.

“ADOT and the money have to be ready to go at the same time,” she said. “It’s a lengthy process with studies, surveys, bids and other things. It irritates my soul they are moving this slow.”

More funds possible next year

Maricopa County voters could help out with funding for a portion of the Riggs Road interchange, Martinez said.

In November, voters will see a ballot measure for Proposition 479 , which will extend a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation around the county. This includes 5 miles of SR 347 and the Riggs Road intersection.

“If that passes, all the roads in Maricopa County are going to be funded at a more rapid pace,” Martinez said. “If it passes, it’s very possible we can start the interchange project sooner than fiscal year 2028.”

Other possible methods of funding include federal grant money, which Martinez said U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis have been working on.

“Rep. Crane has been helpful with respect to getting grant money and Gov. Lewis has also been advocating for additional interstate dollars,” she said.

It’s a glimmer, small as it may be, of hope. Martinez and Manfredi said it’s still important for residents to contact ADOT and other legislators about funding for the project.

“Let those in power in Phoenix know, respectfully, that a budget that removes [and] pushes funding 4 years from now, or reduces funding for 347, expansion is unacceptable,” Manfredi said.

Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.

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