*Updated 9/10: New Westbound I-10 Lanes Set to Open at Orange Grove Road

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT): New westbound lanes on Interstate 10 between Orange Grove and Ina roads to open by Tuesday.Photo byImage: Tysonomo Multimedia

TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced today that new westbound lanes on Interstate 10, extending from Orange Grove Road to Ina Road, are scheduled to open by Tuesday morning.

The project, which began in early 2023, aims to widen I-10 from three to four lanes between Ina and Ruthrauff roads.

Currently, the project is 60% complete, with crews having utilized frontage roads as a detour while reconstructing the highway. The upcoming traffic shift will transition westbound vehicles onto the newly reconstructed lanes, according to ADOT.

This week’s development sets the stage for additional progress by the end of 2024. In the coming months, eastbound I-10 traffic will also shift from the frontage roads onto new lanes.

Similarly, the remaining section of westbound I-10 between Ruthrauff and Orange Grove roads will be completed. By late 2024, the interchange at Orange Grove Road is expected to reopen, according to ADOT.

The $171 million project will continue through 2025, with several key components still underway. These include the extension of Sunset Road east of I-10 to River Road, featuring new bridges over Union Pacific railroad tracks and the Rillito River.

The Sunset Road interchange is projected to open as the project concludes in late 2025, according to ADOT.

Additional improvements include:

• Rebuilding Orange Grove Road bridges for increased clearance, according to ADOT
• Adding lanes to the entrance and exit ramps at Orange Grove and Sunset roads to enhance safety and reduce delays, according to ADOT
• Replacing nine bridges within the project area, including those over Canada del Oro Wash and the Rillito River, according to ADOT
• Constructing an access path from Sunset Road to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop, according to ADOT
• Implementing new lighting, landscaping, and drainage features, according to ADOT

This freeway expansion is part of the Regional Transportation Authority’s roadway improvement plan, managed by the Pima Association of Governments.

Throughout the construction, ADOT will ensure that local businesses maintain access, according to ADOT.

*Update; Sept. 10

A planned traffic shift to newly constructed westbound lanes on Interstate 10 at Orange Grove Road has been delayed due to mechanical issues with lane striping equipment, according to ADOT.

The shift, initially scheduled to be completed by Tuesday morning, will be rescheduled in the coming days, ADOT officials confirmed.

In the meantime, traffic will continue to use the westbound frontage road as a detour through the ongoing construction zone. ADOT advises drivers to expect delays and observe posted speed limits in the area for safety.

Further updates will be provided as the situation progresses.