Public-private partnership finalized for South Mountain Freeway (hotel, homes)

[cjseliga]

It looks like the finalized public-private partnership between AZDOT and Connect 202 Partners will save over $100 million and have the new 22-mile freeway finished by the end of 2019. It will be interesting to see if they can meet that deadline. Building a brand-new 22-mile 8-lane (4 in each direction, 3 general +1 HOV lane) limited access freeway in a little over 3 years is pretty impressive.

South Mountain Freeway agreement delivers lower cost, shorter timeline

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

It looks like the finalized public-private partnership between AZDOT and Connect 202 Partners will save over $100 million and have the new 22-mile freeway finished by the end of 2019. It will be interesting to see if they can meet that deadline. Building a brand-new 22-mile 8-lane (4 in each direction, 3 general +1 HOV lane) limited access freeway in a little over 3 years is pretty impressive.

South Mountain Freeway agreement delivers lower cost, shorter timeline

The final ruling is expected in May, and hopefully the lawsuits get dismissed and PARC and the Gila River Indian Reservation are forced to pay 100% of ADOT's court fees. At the same time, once a final ruling is made, ADOT should also press criminal charges against both PARC and the Gila River Indian Reservation for abusing the legal system. Every single member of PARC, as well as those in the Gila River Indian Reservation who are part of the lawsuit, should be thrown in prison for life.

Anyway, it is good that ADOT can build the freeway much faster and cheaper by use of a P3 pending a final ruling.

[Prickly Pear]

Why is there a lawsuit?

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by :-D

Why is there a lawsuit?

Wasn't there a lawsuit by the Gila River IR about the Arizona DOT having to blast part of the South Mountain Park to put the new freeway in? Ironically, it was because the Indian Reservation wouldn't sell them the ROW on their land they had to move the freeway and take out the southwest edge of the mountain range.

And funny part of all this, is the reservation is going to make out once the freeway is completed since it will give people better access to the Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino with a brand new exit at 51st Ave. You would think the Gila River Indian Community would at least send ADOT some flowers and a box of chocolates for putting an exit there without costing the tribe a penny!

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

Wasn't there a lawsuit by the Gila River IR about the Arizona DOT having to blast part of the South Mountain Park to put the new freeway in? Ironically, it was because the Indian Reservation wouldn't sell them the ROW on their land they had to move the freeway and take out the southwest edge of the mountain range.

And funny part of all this, is the reservation is going to make out once the freeway is completed since it will give people better access to the Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino with a brand new exit at 51st Ave. You would think the Gila River Indian Community would at least send ADOT some flowers and a box of chocolates for putting an exit there without costing the tribe a penny!

Perhaps that exit should be removed from the plans as punishment for their meritless lawsuit.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by :-D

Why is there a lawsuit?

A few local interest groups and HOAs have banded together to oppose the extension of the freeway.

They are alleging a few things:

• That ADOT/FHWA et al. have not considered all reasonable and environmentally friendly alternatives., and that they didn't inform the public of all reasonable alternatives--i.e. mitigating the effects of what they estimate to be an increase by 460% in traffic, primarily being Semi Trucks. ADOT et al estimate 10% or around 13,200 trucks per day will pass through the area.
• Due to it's location it will supplant I17 as the Hazardous Cargo route adding more environmental affects.
• Some of the neighborhoods rely on local wells that could be impacted by highway pollution (oil, hazardous cargo etc.)
• That ADOT/FHWA have not properly fulfilled their obligations and have instead used the NEPA process to rationalize what they were going to already do and not as a properly objective study.
• It destroys 3 ridges of South Mountain Preserve which violates its status as a National Historic Preserve Area
• The area as a sacred monument to Native tribes

This is a TL;DR version that is very very simplified but this is the general idea of their allegations.

Summary Judgment ruling in May, probably denied which would probably mean a trial of some sort.

[corydon]

I did sleep one night in the super 8 at 51st ave in January. It is supposed to be demolished in a few weeks. The motel next to it was closed and boarded up, reado for the wrecking ball. What I don't get, there are many homes just around the corner. Are they all getting demolished?

The reason for sleeping in that location was, it had truck parking and a driver from Canada wanted to stop by. He had to take a plane in the morning.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by corydon

I did sleep one night in the super 8 at 51st ave in January. It is supposed to be demolished in a few weeks. The motel next to it was closed and boarded up, reado for the wrecking ball. What I don't get, there are many homes just around the corner. Are they all getting demolished?

The Arizona DOT created a 3D fly-through video, where you can see where the freeway will go and what's staying.


Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway 3D Fly-Through Video

[Prickly Pear]

Does anyone know if there will be a 51st Avenue exit onto the 202 with this plan? And vice versa?

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by :-D

Does anyone know if there will be a 51st Avenue exit onto the 202 with this plan? And vice versa?

Yes, they are relocating 51st Ave. a bit, as to not infringe the new exit onto the Indian reservation. It looks like it will be a simple diamond interchange.

http://azdot.gov/docs/default-source.../smf_map11.pdf