Sen. Kelly, Buttigieg discuss Arizona’s delayed I-10 expansion, building I-11 in hearing

Kelly also raised roadway construction projects at hearing on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law implementation

WASHINGTON D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) broached with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on the necessity of expanding Interstate-10 and reconstructing the state's interstate highway system with the construction of I-11 to connect Phoenix and Las Vegas.

This was discussed yesterday during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created by Sen. Kelly.

“Right now, Interstate 10 which connects Phoenix and Tucson – the two largest metropolitan areas in the state -- still to this day, just has two lanes in sections, long sections. A single accident can cause traffic jams for hours. I’ve spent 6.5 hours on that highway stuck in a traffic jam when the normal drive is about 90 minutes," said Sen. Kelly. "And these traffic jams happen every single day on average. And despite being two of the fastest growing cities in the country – another issue we have is Phoenix and Las Vegas.  Phoenix and Las Vegas are still not connected via an interstate highway."

A timeline for the construction was brought up by Sen. Kelly to Buttigieg asking about the agenda for federal transportation grant applications and what state applicants would have to do to meet those qualifications.

“That’s why I worked, in this committee and on the floor, to support the creation of the new National Infrastructure Project Assistance program – which we're calling the ‘mega projects’ program – to fund major transportation projects with national or regional economic, mobility, and safety benefits," said Kelly.