Drivers now have easier access to Arizona’s Desert Ridge area, near Phoenix, thanks to
the Arizona Department of Transportation’s(ADOT) installation of elevated ramps that link State Route 51 at the Loop 101 Pima Freeway to Black Mountain Boulevard.
A newly installed roundabout slows traffic getting on and off the freeway. Additionally, a bridge for pedestrians over Black Mountain Boulevard and in the vicinity of Pinnacle High School has opened.
“Our goal has been to deliver a project that helps the city with its transportation plans for the Desert Ridge area and beyond,” ADOT Assistant Director Steve Boschen said. “The ramps provide local drivers with direct access to State Route 51.”
The entire project carried a price tag of $17.8 million; it was funded by ADOT and the City of Phoenix. The ADOT-managed project has been under construction since June of last year and also included enhancements to Black Mountain Boulevard.
“As the city continues to develop in the north, better transportation options are needed to meet the needs of a growing city,” Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams said. “The new ramps will provide options for a rapidly growing area.”
