By Gabriela Rico for Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Department of Transportation has agreed to match a $25M federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to begin construction of a flyover ramp in Nogales to expedite the flow of trade from Mexico.
The 3.7-mile Arizona 189 is one of the shortest state routes in Arizona yet supports the Mariposa Port of Entry, one of the nation’s busiest ports serving as the gateway for most of the winter produce entering the United States. It is also a major hub for trade between Arizona and Mexico, estimated at $30B annually.
In approving the annual update to ADOT’s five-year transportation facilities construction plan, the Arizona State Transportation Board endorsed ADOT’s recommendation to move forward with the $134M project that will include flyover routes connecting both northbound and southbound lanes of Arizona 189 with Interstate 19.
More than 7 million vehicles cross the port every year, including 350,000 commercial trucks.
The move will get commercial trucks off surface roads used by commuters in Nogales.
Building the entire project at one time, which will save about $13M, is possible because of funding from a variety of local, state and federal sources, officials said.
Construction of the new flyover ramp is expected to begin next year.
Read more at Arizona Daily Star.
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