Published on October 23, 2025
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The Department of Transportation and Mobility is hard at work enhancing Tucson’s infrastructure to create safer, smoother, and more accessible streets for everyone. Whether you walk, bike, drive, or ride transit. In this update, you’ll find the latest on projects currently under construction, as well as a preview of what’s on the horizon. We appreciate your patience and support as we invest in a stronger, safer future for our community.
The Downtown Links Improvement Project began in August 2020. This phase of the project connects Barraza Aviation Parkway to St. Mary's Road and is being constructed in two parts, with the eastern segment from Barraza Aviation Parkway at Broadway to Sixth Street completed in February 2023. This project in total includes more than just improvements to the surface, there is an underground box culvert to help alleviate flooding in the downtown area, a new overpass at Sixth Avenue, an underpass at Sixth Street which will remove the at grade railroad crossing, a new roadway, a deck plaza and bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
Currently, work is taking place on the underpass at the Union Pacific Railroad, which is the most complex segment of the project. This segment has required the City of Tucson to work closely with UPRR and a fiber optic utility company to ensure success of the project for all stakeholders. This project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority Plan.
What’s ahead:
Work continues on the underpass, including the excavation of the stormwater vault and creating the complete pass through of the underpass to the future new intersection of Church Avenue and Sixth Street. Crews continue to also work on the deck plaza, including the installation of planters and table shade structures.
The project is anticipated to be complete in the beginning of 2026.
Since the project began in November 2024 crews have paved a multi-use path, constructed the north side of the median islands, graded channels, installed culverts and storm drains, and base paved the north side of the roadway. Since July, focus has been shifted to the south side of Valencia Road where crews are currently working on underground infrastructure, electrical and landscaping as well as prepping the subgrade for the future base pave.
This four-mile project includes widening Valencia Road to a six-lane roadway, drainage improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, traffic signal upgrades and more.This project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority Plan.
Crews will continue to work on the south side of the roadway and plan to base pave in March 2026.
Note – This roadway segment is included as part of the El Tour de Tucson route this year and westbound restrictions will be in place during the race.
This project is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2026.
Project website -https://dtmprojects.tucsonaz.gov/pages/valencia-road-kolb-to-houghton
The Grant Road Improvement Project from Sparkman Blvd to Swan Road, began in May of 2024. Since the project began, crews have been busy working on the underground infrastructure, including waterlines, sewer lines and a storm drain. All underground improvements have been completed on the west end of the project and this week crews are scheduled to base pave the north section of Grant Road from Alvernon Way to Sparkman Boulevard. Crews have also installed new street lighting, sidewalks, curbs, medians and the bus pullouts on the west half of the project.
Crews will continue to install the underground infrastructure east of Alvernon Way and within the Alvernon and Grant intersection. On Wednesday, October 22, the north end of Columbus Boulevard and Grant Road will close while crews conduct underground water line tie ins. The south end of Columbus will remain closed while the storm drain is installed. In November, to accommodate the work in the intersection, Alvernon Way will be restricted to one lane in each direction and left turns will be prohibited. This will allow crews to safely construct the storm drain across the roadway.This project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority Plan.
This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
This multi-layered improvement project is a layered investment using two voter-approved initiatives to invest in all modes of transportation in the area. On Fifth Street/Sixth Street from Campbell Avenue to Alvernon Way, is the Prop 407 Strong Connections Pedestrian and Walkability project which will include complete connected sidewalks, lighting, landscape and ADA compliant ramps. Fifth Street from Country Club Road to Wilmot Road includes a new water line throughout the project limits, a new reconstructed roadway and a reconfigured striping plan which will include a center turn lane, bike lanes and one lane in each direction.
In early 2026, the roadway reconstruction will begin at Fifth Street at Country Club Road and work east. Water line work will continue headed east toward Wilmot Road.
This project is scheduled to be complete in mid-2027.
Following dozens of public outreach meetings held on this project in 2023, this project is currently out to bid to find a contractor. Thanks to feedback from the community, the project was redesigned to accommodate all modes of transportation, while keeping both ramps in place.This project is part of the Regional Transportation Authority Plan.
What’s ahead:This project is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.
Project website -https://dtmprojects.tucsonaz.gov/pages/22nd-street-bridge
Status as of July 2025
The Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission approved the Phase II draft program on July 22, 2025. Phase II projects are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2027, followed by Phase III which is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2030. Active coordination with utility providers is being conducted to ensure that planned roadway improvements remain intact and do not require subsequent removal or modification.
Collector Street Program – Street Preservation and Improvement
$15 million is allocated to the Collector Street Program, annually for 5 years, through HURF and the General Fund. The Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission approved the 5-year Collector Street Project List on January 22, 2024. It included 28 roadway segments.
Safe Streets
Goal: To provide systemwide street safety improvements that benefit all users and modes, including street lighting, sidewalks, bicycle network enhancements, traffic signal technology upgrades and traffic-calming features.
The Complete Streets Coordinating Council approved 7-years of funding for the Safe Streets program, prioritizing a “layered approach” at Council direction. Several layered corridor projects are in active design, with significant construction activity anticipated to begin in 2026.
Grant Road at I-10 underpass–2026 Houghton Road – 22ndStreet to Irvington Road – Late 2026 Silverbell Road – El Camino del Cerro toGoretRoad