Big Progress on New I-10 Bridges Over Gila River
GRIN Staff
Gila River Indian News
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is making great strides in building new Interstate 10 bridges over the Gila River near Wild Horse Pass. These bridges are a key part of a major expansion project aimed at improving traffic flow through the Gila River Indian Community.
The $50.9 million project began in May 2024 and has already achieved several big milestones. Over the summer, construction crews finished installing the foundation, including the drilled shafts, concrete columns, and pier caps that will support the bridge.
In October, workers completed one of the most important tasks so far: placing 52 huge concrete girders for the eastbound bridge. Each girder, made at a local factory in Phoenix, is 104 feet long, 4 feet tall, and weighs 42 tons. To avoid traffic delays, crews worked at night to get the girders in place over two weeks.
“This is a major step forward for the project,” said Marcy McMacken, community relations project manager and public information officer for ADOT. “When both bridges are done, we’ll have installed 182 girders to support the new eastbound and westbound structures.”
Right now, teams are focused on adding diaphragms to the eastbound bridge. These parts help strengthen the bridge and evenly spread out the weight of vehicles, including heavy trucks.
The next big step is scheduled for early 2025, when crews will pour the bridge deck. Once finished, the new bridges will expand from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. Wider shoulders will also make the road safer and easier to use.
These bridges are part of the larger I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project, which covers 26 miles between Loop 202 and State Route 387 near Casa Grande. The overall project will add three continuous lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Tucson, making travel faster and safer for everyone.
Other upgrades in the project include new HOV lanes from Loop 202 to Riggs Road, better interchanges, and advanced freeway technology like fiber optics for improved safety and communication.
To keep traffic moving during construction, the new bridges are being built next to the old ones. Lane restrictions are kept to a minimum and are scheduled during overnight hours.
The new Gila River bridges, which will stretch 1,400 feet, are expected to be finished by 2026. The entire corridor project is on track to wrap up by late 2028. For the latest updates on construction and traffic, visit i10wildhorsepasscorridor.com.