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I-10 bypass draws criticism
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
One message the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) continues to hear loud and clear is to leave the San Pedro Valley alone in a current study on the feasibility of a new bypass that would stretch from Phoenix to Willcox.
In a work session with the Benson City Council last week, Dale Buskirk with ADOT said they are studying the bypass proposed by Tucson Attorney S.L. Schorr.
During a state transportation board meeting in December, Schorr, who represents Pima County, proposed a bypass that would connect to Interstate 10 near Willcox and run north of Tucson, reconnecting to I-10 near Phoenix.
Schorr said he proposed this specific bypass because the state must come up with an answer to the increasing truck traffic on I-10. Besides trucks, traffic counts on the interstate are increasing because of population growth.
Buskirk said the most important thing for the public to understand at this time is the study is very preliminary.
"This is to look to see if such a bypass is needed and if we need to study other alternatives," he said. "There are many tasks to be completed, and one of the first is to review all relevant studies."
However, Buskirk said the bypass is not even a major priority, noting ADOT is looking at expanding Interstate 10.
"The highest priority for ADOT is the development of I-10 to the ultimate build out," he said. "After the I-10 build out, if traffic demands cannot be accommodated, then a bypass would be needed."
Buskirk said they are looking as far out as 2050, but in the meantime will still produce on a study on the proposed bypass.
After looking at the environmental impacts and hosting another round of public hearings in November, Buskirk said the final version will be submitted to the state transportation board some time in December.
In the meantime, Buskirk said they had heard plenty of feedback from Cochise County residents and elected officials.
"The message coming throughout loudly and clearly is to avoid the San Pedro," he said. "That message has come through and I'm sure we will continue to hear it."
However, Buskirk said he couldn't rule out the San Pedro Valley in the current study. ADOT crews did spend two days in the valley studying the environmental impact such a bypass would have.
The Cascabel Working Group was formed to oppose the bypass proposal. During the meeting Bob McClure said besides being a waste of money and time, if the bypass becomes reality, it will cause irreversible damage to the San Pedro River.
"The river is a major fly way," he said. "Birds use it on their way to Mexico and I think it's one of the biggest fly ways in North America. We also have a number of unusual mammals in the area.
"We observed first-hand what those folks wanted us to see," Buskirk said. "Based on the two days we spent in the field we are continuing to make adjustments. The study is still just a work in progress."
With traffic and population forecasts being a big part of the study, Councilwoman Kathy Suagee asked how accurate forecasts have been in the past.
"When you forecast into the long-range future, it is not always very accurate," Buskirk said. "I will say that in the past many of our forecasts have been conservative. Arizona has been in a tremendous growth mode since the 1950s. Arizona is the fastest growing state in the union and it is reasonable to assume it will continue to grow into the future."
Vice Mayor Toney King said while the decisions both ADOT and elected officials are making regarding I-10 and the bypass right now will not really impact current residents, it will affect generations in the future.
"In 40 years, the majority of us won't be here, but the decisions we are making on this issue now will affect our loved ones in the future," he said. "I hope whoever is planning this does it right because it's not about us, it's about our kids."
Several of Benson's elected officials and administrators oppose the proposed bypass, stating it will not only impact the environment in the Benson area, but it will also impact the area economically.
District 8 U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Richard Searle, Chairman of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors and the District 3 representative, have written letters to ADOT stating they are concerned about the environmental impact such a bypass would have.
McClure and members of the Cascabel working group said now is the time for residents to get involved, urging they write letters to ADOT, elected officials and local newspapers.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
One message the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) continues to hear loud and clear is to leave the San Pedro Valley alone in a current study on the feasibility of a new bypass that would stretch from Phoenix to Willcox.
In a work session with the Benson City Council last week, Dale Buskirk with ADOT said they are studying the bypass proposed by Tucson Attorney S.L. Schorr.
During a state transportation board meeting in December, Schorr, who represents Pima County, proposed a bypass that would connect to Interstate 10 near Willcox and run north of Tucson, reconnecting to I-10 near Phoenix.
Schorr said he proposed this specific bypass because the state must come up with an answer to the increasing truck traffic on I-10. Besides trucks, traffic counts on the interstate are increasing because of population growth.
Buskirk said the most important thing for the public to understand at this time is the study is very preliminary.
"This is to look to see if such a bypass is needed and if we need to study other alternatives," he said. "There are many tasks to be completed, and one of the first is to review all relevant studies."
However, Buskirk said the bypass is not even a major priority, noting ADOT is looking at expanding Interstate 10.
"The highest priority for ADOT is the development of I-10 to the ultimate build out," he said. "After the I-10 build out, if traffic demands cannot be accommodated, then a bypass would be needed."
Buskirk said they are looking as far out as 2050, but in the meantime will still produce on a study on the proposed bypass.
After looking at the environmental impacts and hosting another round of public hearings in November, Buskirk said the final version will be submitted to the state transportation board some time in December.
In the meantime, Buskirk said they had heard plenty of feedback from Cochise County residents and elected officials.
"The message coming throughout loudly and clearly is to avoid the San Pedro," he said. "That message has come through and I'm sure we will continue to hear it."
However, Buskirk said he couldn't rule out the San Pedro Valley in the current study. ADOT crews did spend two days in the valley studying the environmental impact such a bypass would have.
The Cascabel Working Group was formed to oppose the bypass proposal. During the meeting Bob McClure said besides being a waste of money and time, if the bypass becomes reality, it will cause irreversible damage to the San Pedro River.
"The river is a major fly way," he said. "Birds use it on their way to Mexico and I think it's one of the biggest fly ways in North America. We also have a number of unusual mammals in the area.
"We observed first-hand what those folks wanted us to see," Buskirk said. "Based on the two days we spent in the field we are continuing to make adjustments. The study is still just a work in progress."
With traffic and population forecasts being a big part of the study, Councilwoman Kathy Suagee asked how accurate forecasts have been in the past.
"When you forecast into the long-range future, it is not always very accurate," Buskirk said. "I will say that in the past many of our forecasts have been conservative. Arizona has been in a tremendous growth mode since the 1950s. Arizona is the fastest growing state in the union and it is reasonable to assume it will continue to grow into the future."
Vice Mayor Toney King said while the decisions both ADOT and elected officials are making regarding I-10 and the bypass right now will not really impact current residents, it will affect generations in the future.
"In 40 years, the majority of us won't be here, but the decisions we are making on this issue now will affect our loved ones in the future," he said. "I hope whoever is planning this does it right because it's not about us, it's about our kids."
Several of Benson's elected officials and administrators oppose the proposed bypass, stating it will not only impact the environment in the Benson area, but it will also impact the area economically.
District 8 U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Richard Searle, Chairman of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors and the District 3 representative, have written letters to ADOT stating they are concerned about the environmental impact such a bypass would have.
McClure and members of the Cascabel working group said now is the time for residents to get involved, urging they write letters to ADOT, elected officials and local newspapers.
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