Construction is scheduled to start in early 2027 for the first segment of the Valencia Road: Mission Road to Camino de Oeste (RTA 2026-10) project. This stretch of Valencia Road from Camino de la Tiera to Mission Road will widen Valencia to a 6-lane divided roadway with bicycle, safety, pedestrian and drainage improvements.
This is a project from the voter approved 2026 RTA plan.
The improvements involve widening the existing roadway to improve safety, reduce congestion, improve operations, and increase mobility. This project is incorporating Complete Streets designs to improve access and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders as well as vehicles.
The 1.3-mile project area includes three signalized and several unsignalized intersections. It is part of a main transportation corridor serving the greater southwest Tucson community and two Native American communities. It is a rapidly growing commercial and retail district for underserved and historically disadvantaged communities.
Construction is tentatively set to begin in early 2027 and is expected to be completed in late 2029 or early 2030.
Improvements and Benefits
Project investments address multiple transportation challenges: alleviating traffic congestion and ensuring safety, mobility, and accessibility for diverse users. Specific benefits include:
- Providing new sheltered transit stops, bike lanes, and sidewalks to a multi-modal community
- Increasing travel lanes along a critical freight corridor
- Improving drainage and integrating sustainable features
- Adding public art and native plant landscape
- Restoring, adding, and modernizing transportation infrastructure
- Supporting the area economy by improving freight mobility and access to national parks and other tourist destinations
- Creating jobs for Tribal communities and nearby low-income population
Other Enhancements
- Pedestrians – Sidewalks or Multiuse Paths
- Both Sides of Valencia
- Connect to sidewalks on side streets
- Corridor Lighting
- Signalization
- Reconstruct three existing signalized intersections
- Add signal control at Hildreth/Westover
- Include Pelican at Church
- Drainage
- Camino de la Tierra – Elevate Roadway
- North Side Valencia – Buried Drainage piping
- Increase Culvert Capacity under Valencia (3 Locations)
- Protected Bike Lanes
- Bus Stops with Shelters
- Landscape
- Art
Learn More: https://engage.zencity.io/engagepimacounty/en-US/projects/valencia-road-improvement-project
