State Route 287 west of the Town of Florence and then further south to I‐10 between
Eloy and Marana . According to the ADOT, the project will address the following needs:
Address a lack of roadway capacity;
Improve the efficiency of existing freeway and arterial street networks;
Improve access to future activity centers;
Enhance transportation system linkages;
Create a more direct connection to the eastern portion of the Phoenix
metropolitan area;
Perform functions and provide services identified in local, regional and statewide
plans; and
Evaluate potential multimodal facility (rail and utility) opportunities in the area.
A Tier I environmental impact statement (EIS), which will assess the project in broad
terms, is currently in development and is expected to be completed in 2019. As project
funding is identified, Tier II studies would address the project in greater detail prior to
actual funding and construction. A key component of the Tier I EIS is the assessment of
corridor alternatives.
Corridor alternatives, including a “preferred action corridor alternative” for the highway
are being developed as part of the EIS process. Currently there are two primary route
options, each of which include multiple road segment variations across the length of the
proposed route. This creates several alternatives depending on which primary option is
aligned with available segment choices. Figure 5‐3 provides a map of the routes and
segment options currently being assessed. The main difference between the two
primary routes is the east / west alignment of the roadway.
One alternative under consideration would go through the Rittenhouse Training Site.
Another alternative would be further to the east and run close to the west border of FMR
and adjacent to the Town of Florence.
A draft North–South Corridor Study Alternatives Selection Report originally prepared in
2014 identified potential impacts to AZARNG operations at Rittenhouse Training Site and
FMR. Potential impacts to AZARNG include:
Loss of the Rittenhouse Training Site;
Degraded helicopter training capability;
Degraded military training capability at FMR;
Background Report
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