New 22nd Street Bridge: A Key Transportation Milestone for Tucson in 2025

The city of Tucson has announced plans to begin construction on a new bridge at 22nd Street, which will span the Union Pacific railroad tracks. This project, set to commence after mid-2025, aims to replace the existing bridge built in 1966. The current structure cannot accommodate heavy vehicles, including buses and emergency services.

The new bridge design will expand traffic lanes from two to three, adding bike and pedestrian paths, along with connections to the Aviation Bike Path. This $111 million project is partially funded by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and includes a $25 million federal grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, reflecting nearly 20 years of planning.

In addition to the new bridge, Tucson’s Transportation Department will focus on several critical infrastructure projects in 2025. The ongoing work on Grant Road, between Swan Road and Sparkman Boulevard, is budgeted at $63.3 million and expected to finish by autumn 2026. Features of this project will include landscaped medians, expanded bike lanes, and designated bus pullouts.

This work represents phases 3 and 4 of a broader effort to widen Grant Road to six lanes from Interstate 10 to Swan Road, following earlier phases that upgraded the roadway to six lanes between Park Avenue and Oracle Road. Planning continues for two additional phases to extend Grant Road six lanes further, estimated at $100 million.

The Downtown Links project is also making progress, with a completion target of mid-2025. This project includes a new tunnel for Sixth Street that will transport traffic beneath the Union Pacific tracks and has been in development for decades. The $76 million initiative aims to streamline traffic flow from the East Side to Interstate 10.

Another significant project in motion is the expansion of Valencia Road, which will see upgrades to three lanes in each direction alongside bike and pedestrian accommodations. Estimated at $29 million, it is projected to conclude by mid-2026.

Further improvements will take place on several collector streets in East Tucson, including 29th Street and Prudence Road. The repaving of nearby residential streets in the Rolling Rocks neighborhood is also underway. Additionally, design work is progressing for a section of Stella Road.

In 2024, Tucson’s city efforts will include ongoing neighborhood road maintenance through the Tucson Delivers Better Streets program, funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in May 2022. Projects planned for next year encompass areas like Swan Way and Groves Lincoln Park. This program is also financing surface treatments citywide.

In the past year, Prop 411 has successfully funded repaving in several neighborhoods, including Julia Keen and Winterhaven, showcasing the city’s commitment to enhancing local infrastructure.