Spring has sprung …
But the work ain’t done …
And neither are the oversize loads that have been a source of angst for commuters and other motorists on State Highway 83 between Sonoita and Vail since November.
Garin Groff, spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation, confirmed that completion of the Amole Interchange and rail bridge rehabilitation project on Interstate 10, just west of Benson, is now scheduled for fall. The project originally was scheduled for completion this spring.
“It’s far enough off that we don’t have a specific (completion) date,” Groff said, adding that the change was due to construction delays.
As a result of the construction, loads in excess of 16 feet wide are being detoured off of I-10 and onto state highways 83, 82 and 90. Westbound overloads are restricted to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, during daylight hours, and are diverted south on Highway 90, west on 82 and north on 83. Eastbound loads, on Tuesday and Thursday, travel in the opposite direction.
The oversize load issue boiled over in December after numerous reports of significant traffic delays and commuters fearing for their safety while traveling on Highway 83, a curvy, two-lane roadway with limited – and sometimes no – shoulder space. The public outcry caught the attention of District 19 State Rep. Gail Griffin, who pressured ADOT and the Department of Public Safety to restrict the eastbound and westbound loads to alternate days and to increase the interval between the loads to 60 minutes.
While the new controls have mitigated some of the concerns, commuters have continued to vent their frustration on a local Facebook forum. ADOT advises commuters to allocate extra time for commuting between Sonoita and I-10.