The proposal to build I-11, a new interstate linking Mexico to the Intermountain West through Arizona, has a new map and political support but no funding or timeline.
The federal infrastructure package, signed into law by President Joe Biden this month, includes more than $5 billion in highway funding for Arizona.
The big-ticket item some politicians want is I-11.
“The construction of I-11 is really important as a corridor for trade, and that’s very, very important for Arizona,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, during an appearance with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on Friday.
“If you just look at the proposed route, this is one of the most populous areas in America not already connected by interstate highway,” said Buttigieg.
The federal government approved a preferred corridor for I-11 through Arizona last week, and ADOT released a map showing the 280-mile route from Nogales, through Tucson, detouring west of the Phoenix, and joining U.S. 93 northwest of Wickenburg to Las Vegas. Eventually, I-11 would head north through the Intermountain west to Canada.