Arizona Freeways Getting Crowded

New sales taxes may be in the future for some Valley residents as cities grasp for ways to widen growth-choked freeways ahead of the schedule approved by voters only 14 months ago.

The extent of desperation is evident in a political coalition built by Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye and Litchfield Park, where officials are discussing whether to ask voters to approve city sales-tax increases to jump start Interstate 10's expansion next year instead of having to wait until 2011.

The problem is that some stretches of Valley freeway already need more traffic capacity than was expected at this early stage in the $15.8 billion Regional Transportation Plan. In addition to Interstate 10, other freeway areas are also looking to move up on the list, including Interstate 17 in far north Phoenix, Loop 101 in Scottsdale and segments of the Superstition in Tempe. More...



Photos from the Arizona Department of Transportation