Construction for a new project at Interstate 19 and West Irvington Road is set to begin Thursday, July 16.
And it will take 20 months to complete.
The I-19 interchange improvement project will help accommodate growing traffic demand in the area, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in a news release. The average daily traffic volume on I-19 at Irvington Road is about 85,000 vehicles a day, the department says.
The $53.4 million project is planned to be completed by spring of 2028.
A long line of traffic waits for a green light on West Irvington Road at Interstate 19. A nearly two-year interchange improvement project begins Thursday.
Initial restrictions will be from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights. Irvington will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12-foot vehicle width restriction. Temporary barriers will be set up for the pedestrian crossing on the north side of Irvington.
The speed limit will be reduced to 25 miles per hour in the work zone, according to ADOT.
People are also reading…
Some major additions include a new bridge for additional travel and a cloverleaf ramp that allows eastbound Irvington to merge directly onto northbound I-19.
A nearly $54 million interchange improvement project at Interstate 19 and West Irvington Road begins later this week and is expected to be completed by spring of 2028.
Other improvements in the project are a third lane added west and east of I-19, wider entrance ramps in both directions and a new a new merge lane for northbound I-19.
Westbound Irvington will have three through lanes and two dedicated left-turn lanes, with eastbound getting two through lanes and two lanes feeding the new cloverleaf ramp.
The intersection at Landing Center Drive will be reconfigured to allow northbound and southbound left turns. A dual left-turn bay into the Tucson Spectrum shopping center will allow more traffic to flow into the area.
Business access is expected to remain open during construction.
The reconstruction is designed to improve traffic flow and safety for drivers and pedestrians. The improvements are intended to meet traffic demand through 2045, ADOT said.
Improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists include a 12-foot-wide path on the new bridge.
A new raised median east of I-19 will be installed to restrict left turns onto 17th Avenue. This will reduce the risk of collisions, according to ADOT.
Two lanes in each direction for both I-19 and Irvington Road will be open during peak travel times. ADOT said drivers should expect delays and allow extra travel time.
Future phases will require short-term closures of some ramps; more details will be announced later.
