Traffic & Transit
Phoenix I-10 Traffic Could Get Much Worse As ADOT Looks For Solutions
Residents can submit feedback online, by email, phone or mail as planners review possible I-10 design changes.
PHOENIX, AZ — If you drive through downtown Phoenix regularly, you know the stretch of Interstate 10 between the Deck Park Tunnel and the Sky Harbor interchange.
You probably also know how bad it gets during rush hour. State transportation officials say it is only going to get worse — and they want public input before they decide what to do about it.
The Arizona Department of Transportation is working with the City of Phoenix and the Maricopa Association of Governments to study potential improvements to one of the region's most congested freeway corridors.
Find out what's happening in Phoenixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Residents and commuters have until June 30 to submit feedback through an online survey at azdot.gov/I-10TunneltoSplit.
What's Being Studied
Find out what's happening in Phoenixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The study area covers I-10 from the Deck Park Tunnel to the I-10/I-17 Split interchange near Sky Harbor. It also includes State Route 51 south of Thomas Road, Loop 202 west of 24th Street, and the Mini-Stack interchange where all three freeways meet.
That cluster of ramps and lanes is among the busiest and most complicated stretches of freeway in the Valley.
ADOT said it will develop and evaluate alternative design concepts for the corridor. Those concepts could include reconfiguring ramp connections and adjusting lane configurations.
The agency is now asking the public to help shape what those alternatives look like before they are finalized.
Why It Matters
The numbers behind the study are striking. Traffic on I-10 through the study area is already heavily congested during morning and afternoon commutes.
If nothing changes, ADOT projects that average peak-hour delays could increase by as much as 60 percent by 2050.
That projection is driving the urgency behind the review.
More Chances to Weigh In
The June 30 survey deadline is not the last word. ADOT plans to hold a public meeting in fall 2026 to share design alternatives and gather additional input.
A public hearing on the Draft Environmental Assessment is expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
Feedback can also be submitted by email, telephone or mail through the project webpage. Full details are available at azdot.gov/I-10TunneltoSplit.
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