Citing environmental impacts and consequences to Tucson’s existing I-10 companies, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to oppose the route of a achievable new interstate highway west of Tucson that would pass by Avra Valley.

The board passed a resolution on Aug. 16 stating opposition to the proposed Interstate 11 linking Nogales to Wickenburg. The resolution passed in a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Steve Christy opposed.

The resolution follows the release of the Arizona Office of Transportation’s Tier 1 Environmental Effects Statement on July 16 for the west route and several substitute routes. ADOT’s favored alternative is the western solution, which would generate irreversible variations to the landscape by reducing by way of Avra Valley.

Drinking water, soil, and air pollution are predicted to be a direct consequence of creating a new freeway in the Avra Valley and Photograph Rocks location, the Board of Supervisors said in its statement of opposition.

“The positive aspects don’t outweigh the injury that can’t be undone,” Supervisor Adelita Grijalva of District 5 stated. 

Grijalva reported she is opposed to all proposed routes for I-11 for environmental protection. The western route would effect common vacationer places in Tucson these types of as the Saguaro Nationwide Park, Ironwood National Monument, and Tucson Mountain Park. The board’s assertion states the new highway would be shut adequate to hear and see cars from these shielded locations. 

ADOT’s statement shows the western route would also cut via the Bureau of Reclamation’s Tucson Mitigation Corridor. This corridor is reserved