I-10 Twin Peaks Traffic Interchange, Environmental Assessment

Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts October 2005
Business Disruption
A traffic control plan would be developed that would maintain business access
throughout project construction. The construction phase of the project may result in
some temporary inconvenience for the businesses within the project area. The traffic
control plan would be prepared in accordance with ADOT requirements and the
specific needs of area businesses. Access would be maintained throughout the
construction project; however, some inconveniences would be experienced by
customers due to rerouting traffic from the eastbound frontage road to the access
road. Signs would be posted to alert motorists of construction and to direct traffic
to area businesses.
Permanent Impacts
Access
The two-way supplemental access road was proposed to partially mitigate the
effects of the proposed additional R/W acquisition and the loss of access near the
Twin Peaks Road TI. ADOT’s Roadway Design Guidelines prohibit access onto
frontage roads from slightly beyond the ramp/frontage road intersection through
the intersection with the cross road (Twin Peaks Road). Prohibiting access in this
area would minimize conflicts between low speed vehicles turning into and out of
driveways with traffic exiting and entering the interstate at high speeds. Currently
businesses in the area depend on access to the eastbound I-10 frontage road;
therefore, the two-way access road would allow properties near the TI to access
Twin Peaks Road, I-10, and the frontage roads after direct access onto the frontage
road was eliminated.
These businesses have developed their parcels to accommodate customer and
service traffic access from the frontage road to the east. After frontage road access
is eliminated, the businesses would be required to reorient their business
operations to accommodate access from the west. Although this could be
accomplished relatively easily by some property owners, others would find it
difficult to accommodate this change. Some parcels are currently separated from
the access road by parcels owned by others. Access across these parcels would be
addressed during the final design of the proposed improvements and during R/W
negotiations with individual property owners.
Most users of the facility would experience improved access to points east and
west of I-10, to I-10, and to the businesses along the frontage road with the
completion of the preferred alternative.
Traffic Patterns/Service
The preferred alternative would improve most traffic patterns throughout the study
area. The proposed grade-separation at the UPRR would prevent drivers from
experiencing train-related delays on Twin Peaks Road and would reduce
congestion on other local roadways, notably Silverbell and Cortaro Roads. The
eastbound I-10 frontage road would be converted to one-way operation from the
Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange at
Twin Peaks/Linda Vista
4-86
Project No.: NH-010-D (AIW)
TRACS No.: 10 PM 236 H5838 01D