TRAFFIC: Where to watch for road work across Tucson, southern Arizona

Orange Grove Road/Interstate 10 interchange: Through late 2024

The Orange Grove Road interchange will close at Interstate 10 Wednesday, April 5, as major work begins on a project to rebuild and widen I-10 from Ruthrauff to Ina roads in the Tucson area.

The closure will include all exit and entrance ramps except for the I-10 westbound off-ramp. The closure is anticipated to remain in place until late 2024.

The closure is required for a $171 million Arizona Department of Transportation project to improve the safety and traffic flow on a 4-mile section of I-10, in part by adding a fourth traffic lane in each direction and adding lanes to the exit and entrance ramps at the Orange Grove and Sunset roads interchanges. Once the project is completed in late 2025, I-10 will carry four lanes of traffic from 22nd Street to Ina Road.

Another project highlight includes rebuilding the Sunset Road interchange so bridges carry it over I-10. At the same time, a project funded by Pima County will extend Sunset Road east to River Road, with new bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the Rillito. The work will require closing the Sunset Road interchange from this spring until near the project’s completion.

Other improvements include:

• Widening four miles of I-10 from three to four lanes, with an additional auxiliary lane between on and off-ramps.
• Rebuilding the Orange Grove Road interchange to allow for higher clearance.
• Replacing bridges at Canada del Oro Wash and the Rillito.
• Constructing an access path to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop from Sunset Road.
• Related work on lighting, landscaping and drainage.

For most of the project, highway traffic will be shifted to the I-10 frontage roads. ADOT will minimize traffic impacts by keeping three lanes of traffic open during peak traffic hours, with lane restrictions only during overnight hours.

While the Orange Grove and Sunset road interchanges are closed, drivers can use Ruthrauff and Ina roads as alternate routes.

ADOT will maintain access to local businesses throughout the project.

For more information about this project, visit azdot.gov/i10ina2ruthrauff.

Skyline Drive from Columbus Boulevard to Skyline Ridge Drive: Through June

Drivers on Skyline Drive are advised to seek alternate routes during work on the Finger Rock Wash Drainage Improvements project, which begins Monday, April 3, at the Finger Rock Wash.

The project includes replacing a culvert, repaving this segment and installing a guardrail.

Work hours will be 7 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The project is expected to be completed by late June.

Skyline Drive will be closed from Columbus Boulevard to Skyline Ridge Drive during the duration of the project. Drivers should seek alternate routes such as Pontatoc Road.

Message boards will be on-site and detour signs will be placed in advance of the closure.

SR 77/Oracle Road: Through late 2023

The Arizona Department of Transportation is paving four miles of State Route 77/Oracle Road with plans to finish by late 2023.

The work will take place on the southern end of the project, with paving operations on Miracle Mile between Interstate 10 and Oracle Road and on Oracle Road from Miracle Mile to River Road.

Most of the work will occur between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays.

During work hours, drivers can expect large vehicles and equipment on the roadway, uneven pavement and reduced speed limits. One lane of travel will remain open during pavement operations.

The new pavement is one of many improvements planned as part of a two-year, $34 million project to improve the highway between Interstate 10 and Oracle Road, as well as on Oracle Road from Miracle Mile to Calle Concordia.

Drivers should expect some daytime lane restrictions and delays throughout the project. ADOT will maintain access to the roughly 1,100 businesses in the corridor.

For more information about the project, please visit azdot.gov/SR77.