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PHOENIX — Plans for the proposed Interstate 11 freeway in Arizona must be re-evaluated by transportation officials following an agreement reached in a lawsuit involving the project. The Center for Biological Diversity has been pursuing legal action against the I-11 project over concerns regarding how the new freeway could disrupt Arizona's wildlife. The conservation groups sued transportation agencies in 2022 for completing an "inadequate" environmental review before releasing possible I-11 routes between Wickenburg and Nogales.
Earlier this month, the plaintiffs and defendants reached a stipulated agreement that obligates the Federal Highway Administration to re-evaluate the I-11 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement. The re-evaluation will be posted on the Arizona Department of Transportation's website and be subject to public comment. "FHWA will re-evaluate the EIS to determine whether the environmental analysis remains valid, or a supplemental or new analysis is needed, before it can issue any additional approvals for the project," the stipulation states.
The agreement further states that FHA will be assessing whether the proposed I-11 corridor may affect endangered species and critical habitats. As a result of the agreement, a court recently stayed the civil case until the re-evaluation is completed. RELATED: Environmentalists file lawsuit to halt Arizona's I-11 project In 2021, FHA and ADOT published its evaluation for the 280-mile corridor where I-11 could eventually be built in the Grand Canyon State.
A controversial element of the proposed corridor involves the section that would run through the northern region of Pima County. The Tier 1 study released by ADOT identified two options for where to put I-11: adjacent to Interstate 10 or through the rural communities of rural Picture Rocks and Avra Valley. The latter option could have a negative affect on the desert landscape in this area, conservation groups claim.
“The agencies involved have failed to address the devastating harm this project would cause, including threats to Ironwood Forest National Monument," Tom Hannagan of Friends of Ironwood Forest said in a statement. "We won’t stand by and watch our beloved Sonoran Desert be destroyed.” Arizona's elected officials have been vocally supportive of constructing the new freeway.
U.S. Sen.
Mark Kelly recently mentioned that I-11 was "one step closer" to reality thanks to funding allocated for improvements to US 93. RELATED: 'We just don’t think it's a good investment': Why some are not sold on Arizona's I-11 freeway RELATED: Elected officials ask Hobbs to squash I-11 route Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
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