ADOT I-10 and Ruthrauff Road

  • Location:

    Tucson, Arizona

  • Client:

    Arizona Department of Transportation

  • Construction Value:

    $74,347,525

  • Delivery Method:

    Design Bid Build

  • Year Completed:

    2021

  • Specialties:

    Bridges, Roadways

Features & Highlights

  • Lowering and widening I-10 to four lanes in each direction
  • Building an overpass to separate motorists and trains, improving safety and efficiency
  • Widening Ruthrauff Road and El Camino del Cerro to two lanes in each direction near I-10
Project Overview

Similar to Sundt’s Ina Road project, the new interchange will reduce delays and improve safety on Ruthrauff Road and on El Camino del Cerro west of I-10 by carrying traffic over the freeway and Union Pacific Railroad tracks running parallel to the interstate. Drivers no longer need to stop for the more than 40 trains that pass through the area each day.

The project required widening I-10 to four lanes in each direction and reconstruction of the traffic interchange. Other improvements included widening Ruthrauff Road and El Camino del Cerro to two lanes in each direction near I-10, reconstructing the I-10 frontage roads to connect to the new interchange and other miscellaneous work including constructing concrete barriers, storm drain, guardrail, granite mulch, landform graphics, signing and pavement marking.

Prior to the start of construction a large area had been identified as having the potential for archaeological findings. The project team opened up the areas of interest to archaeologists to clear them before we started mass excavation.

To communicate the construction sequence, the project team used 3-D/4-D visualization methods. Sundt staff produced cutting edge visual representations, avoiding existing and design-feature conflicts and assisting in the maintenance of traffic throughout the project.

In addition to an improved traffic experience, the Ruthrauff Road interchange project honors the work of John “Mos” Ruthrauff, a revered Tucson engineer who transformed the city’s dirt roads to paved streets while serving as chief engineer from 1912 – 1917. H

This project required:

1.1 million cubic yards of dirt work

150,000 square feet of MSE retaining walls

139,000 square yards of concrete pavement

78,000 tons of asphalt pavement

2,500 linear feet of drilled shaft foundations.

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This is an important project for the Tucson area. The new interchange will allow traffic to move more quickly through the area, and we’re improving safety because drivers will no longer have to cross the railroad tracks.

– Rod Lane, ADOT’s district engineer for ADOT’s Southcentral District

Contacts

awards & accolades

American Public Works Association, Arizona Chapter, Project of the Year

I-10 & Ruthrauff Road Traffic Interchange
Transportation – More Than $75 Million Category
2022

AGC Arizona Chapter Build Arizona Award

I-10 & Ruthrauff Road Traffic Interchange
Highway Construction Category
2022