Work is progressing on the 22nd Bridge Project (RTA 2006-19). Crews have begun removing the deck over the railroad. The process is more challenging than a normal bridge demolition due to compressed work times to safely work while the Union Pacific Road rail yard remains open and operational below.
Crews have also begun constructing the new bridge, including initial concrete placements for the bridge abutments and the first stage of the bridge piers. Additional work includes drainage installation, rebar installation, and forming and pouring retaining walls.
The 22nd Street project will increase traffic capacity and improve freight access. The previous bridge had a weight restriction of 15 tons due to structural deficiencies, requiring heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, to use alternate routes. 22nd Street is a major east-west arterial that connects to Interstate 10 (I-10) and is designated as a Regional Freight Corridor in the 2018 Pima Association of Governments (PAG) Regional Freight Plan.
The 22nd Street Widening and Bridge Replacement Project will replace the existing weight-restricted bridge, eliminating the need for a detour and providing more direct travel routes for freight and transit.
In addition, the roadway will be expanded from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, matching the existing roadway configuration at both ends of the project limits. This improvement will increase roadway capacity and eliminate the current bottleneck between Kino Parkway and Tucson Boulevard.
Additional Project Features:Â
- New widened roadway approachesÂ
- Upgraded lighting
- Upgrades to Multi-use PathÂ
- Water line improvementsÂ
- Sewer and drainage improvements Upgraded traffic signals
- New ramps between Barraza and 22nd StreetÂ
- New pavement, striping, signingÂ
- Landscaping upgrades
More information: https://dtmprojects.tucsonaz.gov/pages/22nd-street-bridge
