Work on the 5-mile interim facility began in November 2020, with an opening to traffic scheduled later today. The project included $256 million in state, federal and Proposition 400 funding to design, acquire right of way, and construct the facility. The project also includes local roadway improvements and enhanced technology to manage traffic flow.

“The expansion of SR 24 will help with congestion and create greater ease in traveling through southeast Mesa and in and around the Gateway Airport area,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles, noting that SR 24 will improve quality of life and economic opportunity in southeast Mesa and the East Valley. He pointed to the increased number of businesses relocating along the freeway segment, including large scale industrial developments and residential developments like Hawes Crossing and Eastmark. SR 24 connects a booming area of economic development and new communities to the larger regional system.

“We all know that growth is not going to stop in this area,” said Giles. “The need to support and strengthen transportation infrastructure throughout Maricopa County is only going to increase. It is absolutely imperative that we find a solution to extend Prop 400 before it expires in 2025, to make sure critical projects like this do not get left undone. We need our governor and legislature to give the residents of Maricopa County the opportunity to go to the polls and vote to extend Prop 400.”

Proposition 400 is currently set to expire at the end of calendar year 2025. Maricopa County must get statutory authorization from the state legislature to ask county voters for the extension of the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation.

Giles, who is immediate past chair of the MAG Regional Council, said Valley leaders are committed to finding a solution to ensure the transportation system is maintained and that it has the capacity to support sustained growth. Construction of the full freeway facility is funded as part of the investment plan supported by the extension of Proposition 400 and is needed to support further expansion of the facility into Pinal County.