Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) directed a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) demanding a clear plan of action to advance the construction of Interstate 11.
The Context
Interstate 11 is a proposed highway system going from Mexico to Canada, and within Arizona, it would connect Phoenix to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first time via a direct route.
In March, the Arizona House of Representatives passed State Representative Matt Gress's (R-4) House Bill 2601, which requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to request federal segmentation of the Interstate 11 project between Interstate 10 at Casa Grande and Wickenburg as a segment of an independent utility, meaning the project is not reliant on other portions of the corridor being built.
The bill also requires ADOT to complete the necessary environmental reviews and obtain federal approval, thereby giving Tier 2 of the environmental and engineering studies the green light.
What Kelly is Calling For
In 2022, the Arizona Legislature funded the first Tier 2 segment from Wickenburg to Buckeye, but a January 2025 court order required the FHWA and ADOT to agree not to publish a Notice of Intent for a Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) while FHWA completes a required Tier 1 re-evaluation.
This prevented the Tier 2 Wickenburg-Buckeye segment, which was already funded, from advancing, even though it was not the focus of the litigation.
Because of this, Sen. Kelly wrote, "While it is important for the legal process to be completed and any deficiencies with the Tier 1 EIS rectified, it is also important for Arizona to understand what actions may lawfully occur as the litigation proceeds so that ADOT and FHWA initiate formal work on a Tier 2 EIS for the portions of I-11 north of Casa Grande as quickly as legally possible."
He requested that the FHWA provide a detailed plan on what work can be done while the litigation is pending.
"While it is critical that the judicial process be respected and all appropriate planning and environmental work be completed thoroughly and with robust public input, the opportunities presented by the Interstate 11 project from Casa Grande to the Hoover Dam are significant for the future of Arizona," Sen. Kelly concluded. "Your assistance in providing a clear path forward will help the state take actionable steps to advance this critical project in as timely a manner as possible."
