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Driving around Oro Valley, and the area between La Cholla and Oracle in NW Tucson, I notice traffic seems light. I have also noted this on roads in and around the Foothills, and in East Tucson. I can't tell about the UofA area, but I guess that, too, is not very busy. Today reminded me of driving in Alamogordo, NM, with virtually no on one the road ahead of me or behind, and me going 10 miles under the limit while I look at the mountains.

So, I guess it is like this because everyone is away for the summer and returns to snowbird. How bad will it be? Right now is rather nice, Flagstaff in the middle of a work week in July nice, NAU is out, people aren't on the street and weekend tourists aren't up. I expect this won't last.

@kingsnake
I-8 is great, it's I-10 that is the problem (not to mention I-17 between Phoenix and the Verde Valley at times).

kingsnake wrote:

big_load wrote:Oro Valley could really stand some depopulation. I can't think of anywhere in AZ that I dislike driving through more.

I-8?

I drive through Florence and Oro Valley just to avoid the living hell that is that interstate ...

I like most of that route, except how it gums up in Oro Valley. I-8 near Tucson can frazzle me, too, but I dislike I-10 more. The spread between the fastest and slowest drivers is too large, there's too much reckless driving, and too much need to change speed suddenly. Maybe I-8 is like that, too, but I haven't really noticed it. I mostly take that road between Gila Bend and Yuma.

I don't know which it is. Whatever goes from Casa Grande to Tucson. It sucks. The part from Firebird to Casa Grande sucks as well. At least driving through Flroence is mellow, with not too much traffic ...

rwstorm wrote:(not to mention I-17 between Phoenix and the Verde Valley at times)

That one's alright unless there's an accident, then it backs up for miles and miles and miles. At least when I rolled my car going up 17, I had the decency to do so in the median so as not to cause any blockage of lanes.

hippiepunkpirate wrote:That one's alright unless there's an accident, then it backs up for miles and miles and miles.

Oh yes.

I-10 goes through Tucson. I-8 goes from San Diego to Casa Grande, or thereabouts.

hippiepunkpirate wrote:

rwstorm wrote:(not to mention I-17 between Phoenix and the Verde Valley at times)

That one's alright unless there's an accident, then it backs up for miles and miles and miles. At least when I rolled my car going up 17, I had the decency to do so in the median so as not to cause any blockage of lanes.

There needs to be another freeway route to the north starting from the northeast part of the greater Phoenix valley. With connecting freeways from the east valley. This will give an alternate route and alleviate some of the problems with driving to Flagstaff and or Payson and points north.

Build it and they will come. Just do not MAKE IT A TOLL ROAD!

I think they are building a bypass of Prescott that goes to the 40 and connects to Las Vegas. I don't know where it starts further south. Just as long as they do not build a highway up through Cascabel...that would be tragic.

I-11. There are signs announcing it on u.S. 93. Exact alignment has not yet been determined. My vote would be to run it straight up 60 & 93, since there is existing right of way, appropriate bridges, and it is direct. Anything that diverts to the west, like one alternative plan, would defeat the purpose.

kingsnake wrote:I-11. There are signs announcing it on u.S. 93. Exact alignment has not yet been determined. My vote would be to run it straight up 60 & 93, since there is existing right of way, appropriate bridges, and it is direct. Anything that diverts to the west, like one alternative plan, would defeat the purpose.

Speaking of I-11 - the study project is supposed to end this month:

( dead link removed )

All I know is if I were still a resident of Pima County I would like to find out who's job it is to bring back highway funds to the Tucson area. Because obviously that person hasn't done their job in 30 years. Phoenix will build more new freeway this month than Tucson has seen in a decade or more.

But Tucson does have some really pretty new overpasses heading south into town.