Arizona Daily Star: New Bill Puts Freeway Bypass Closer to Reality

News Article

The last leg of an international trade corridor connecting Canada to Mexico could finally include Nogales, thanks to members of the Arizona congressional delegation.

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, along with Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Paul Gosar, are backing legislation to extend the corridor to the border, far beyond its current southern boundary of Wickenburg.

Several members of Congress from Nevada also signed on to the new legislation.

Those backing the new interstate system argue it is critical to increasing trade and will improve heavily used transportation corridors.

"As the population in Arizona continues to grow and innovative businesses increasingly settle in our state, we must ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to foster economic development, international trade and job creation," McCain said. "The highway would be a vital step forward in unlocking our state's economic potential and connecting Arizona's businesses and communities to major domestic and international trade partners."

"The highway's potential to serve as a boon to U.S. trade and economic growth ought to be recognized," Flake said.

Local officials have been voicing concern for over a year that Interstate 11 might bypass Pima County altogether. They feared that alternate routes through Yuma or even California might be selected instead.

A new federal highway in Pima County would help commercial truckers avoid heavy freeway traffic around Tucson and Phoenix. The proposed bypass would likely run west of Tucson through Avra Valley.

Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski said the legislation reinforces ADOT's overall concept for Interstate 11 in Arizona.

ADOT, which completed a two-year feasibility study last fall, supports a path for Interstate 11 that runs throughout Arizona, beginning at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and ending at the Arizona-Mexico border.

Funding for building I-11 has not been determined, but some segments already have been built as improvements to existing highways.