Loop 202 Completion Could Mean More West Valley Jobs

Published: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 3:36pm
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Proponents of the Loop 202 completion say it will reduce travel times for people who now drive through Phoenix to work in the east Valley, but local officials believe the South Mountain Freeway could also mean more jobs closer to home.

“We need quality jobs in the west Valley,” said Christine Mackay, director of Community and Economic Development for the city of Phoenix. “There is so many of those people that are coming to the central city. They’re going to the east Valley and this freeway opportunity will open up that corridor for companies to now make that selection to be located along that 202.” 

Controversy has swirled for decades over the freeway’s east and south sides. There has been less discussion about the potential economic impact for the west side. With land along I-10 already taken, Mackay said the city is working with developers interested in speculative office buildings along the 202's west-side corridor.

Completing the Loop 202 is also expected to help reduce travel times for the trucking industry, a major economic factor for Phoenix’s western neighbor, Tolleson. There was a time when the freeway’s route could have split the city in two. But with the I-10 connection now slated for east of town, Tolleson City Manager Reyes Medrano Jr. said the freeway will help save money for companies like PepsiCo, Bose and Costco Wholesale.

“The South Mountain freeway is going to facilitate the increase of traffic coming through Tolleson,” Medrano said. "Not just from Chandler, Gilbert, the east side cities, but from Texas, the eastern United States and Mexico, all coming and going to LA, for example.”

Mackay said about 30 businesses could be forced to move, depending on where the Loop 202 ultimately connects to I-10.  She declined to identify them, citing owners’ wishes, but said the Arizona Department of Transportation will help finance relocations and Phoenix will do everything it can to keep them in the city.