Comment Sought on Engineering, Environmental Phase of Study



ADOT seeks public input on Sonoran Corridor in Pima County



TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation is seeking public input as it begins an engineering and environmental study of the Sonoran Corridor, a proposed freeway in the Tucson region that would connect Interstates 19 and 10, south of Tucson International Airport. 


ADOT has formally initiated a Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sonoran Corridor. The Notice of Intent to prepare a Tier 2 EIS is currently available on the study website at azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor.


The study will evaluate potential build alternatives for the Sonoran Corridor alignment, interchange locations and other features, as well as a no-build – or do nothing – alternative. The study will ultimately identify a selected alternative based on public, agency and tribal government input and technical analyses.


During the current study phase, ADOT is seeking public input on the project’s preliminary purpose and need, preliminary range of alternatives for the freeway alignment and other considerations to be evaluated in the study. ADOT will hold public meetings in June to provide an overview of the study and seek input on a preliminary range of alternatives for the highway alignment and the project’s purpose and need. The public comment period lasts through July 18.


Two public meetings are scheduled:

  • An in-person meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, at Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium, 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita. A presentation will begin at 6 p.m.
  • A virtual public meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. Visit azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor for virtual meeting sign-in details.


The same information will be presented at each meeting. Meeting presentations and materials will be posted to the study website for those unable to attend.


The corridor, also known as State Route 410, is under study to: improve vehicle mobility and the transportation system, improve access to existing and future activity centers, reduce persistent traffic backups and road congestion, address existing and future high-growth areas, improve and shorten east-west freight movement to and from Mexico and southern Arizona, add a faster connection to Tucson International Airport and shorten east-west freight movement between southern Arizona and Mexico.


Ultimately the study will:

  • Refine the purpose and need of the proposed project
  • Develop and evaluate a range of 400-foot-wide freeway alignment alternatives within the 2,000-foot corridor, including a “no-build” alternative
  • Evaluate environmental considerations and proposed mitigation
  • Develop design concepts and features, such as interchange locations and bridges
  • Provide opportunities for public and stakeholder input throughout the process
  • Select a preferred freeway alternative, which would include the alignment, interchange locations and other design features

Comments may be submitted in any of the following ways through July 18:

Whipple Observatory and Green Valley Recreation Launch First Annual Southwest Skies Astronomy & Dark Skies Festival

August 26, 2026
August 20, 2026 (Amado, Arizona)— A new festival celebrating the awe-inspiring dark skies of the Southwest United States is coming to Green Valley, Arizona thanks to a new partnership between Green Valley Recreation and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Southwest Skies, which will run from October 1-3, 2026, at facilities from Green Valley to Amado, is designed to spotlight not only astronomical research and the Southwest’s clear, dark skies but also the community that makes it possible. “At the Whipple Observatory, we believe that the sky is for everyone, and launching Southwest Skies is just one of the many ways we are working to make the sky, and science, more accessible to our local and global communities,” said Gabrelle Saurage, Site Director, Whipple Observatory, who will provide the keynote presentation on the final evening of the festival. “We also recognize that this festival is so much more than a celebration of the night sky. It’s also opening our local community to guests from around the globe to appreciate what we all get to experience every day and night living here.” Thanks to a new partnership with Green Valley Recreation, the festival will be entirely free for both attendees and exhibitors, allowing the community and its visitors to come together for three days of wonder in learning about the night sky and how we all interact with and protect it. "There's something magical about looking up at the night sky. It reminds us that no matter our background or experience, we're all connected by a shared sense of wonder,” said Nick McLain, Events and Entertainment Manager, Green Valley Recreation. “Through our partnership with Whipple Observatory, Southwest Skies brings our community together to explore, learn, and create unforgettable memories under some of the darkest skies in the country. That's what Green Valley Recreation is all about—bringing people together through experiences that inspire." The festival will feature exhibits, science lectures, community events, star parties, a pop-up art show, and a community forum with Tucson and Pima County on the Outdoor Lighting Code revisions currently under consideration. The event isn’t just for astronomy and dark skies organizations. It’s for the entire community, and local businesses in Southern Arizona are encouraged to participate by hosting themed events throughout the festival. "The Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center is proud to support Southwest Skies and welcome visitors from across Arizona and beyond to experience one of our region's greatest natural treasures, our extraordinary dark skies,” said Randy Graf, President & CEO of the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce. “This exciting new festival not only celebrates science, education, art, and discovery, but also creates meaningful opportunities for local businesses, restaurants, hotels, and community organizations to engage with residents and visitors alike. Events like Southwest Skies showcase the unique character of Green Valley and Sahuarita while generating economic activity and fostering community pride. We encourage businesses throughout the area to participate and help make this a truly community-wide celebration." “As part of the Smithsonian Institution, we are always looking for new ways to work with and for our community to help make it a better place to live, work, and play, and hosting Southwest Skies here gives us the opportunity to highlight not only our counterparts throughout the Southwest, but also the local businesses, organizations, and people that make Southern Arizona unique and special,” said Amy C. Oliver, FRAS, head of education and public outreach at Whipple Observatory, and the lead organizer of this year’s festival. “As the Smithsonian in your backyard, we’re looking forward to opening our doors again this Fall with new services and opportunities around every corner, starting with Southwest Skies.” Whipple Observatory opens to the public with expanded hours on Saturdays beginning September 25, 2026. Tickets for Up Close with VERITAS walking tours and small group private tours of the upper observatory are available now at VisitWhipple.cfa.harvard.edu.  Visit https://southwestskies.cfa.harvard.edu/ for the current and growing list of programs and exhibitors, and information on how you can take part as a community organization, speaker, or artist. Events at Southwest Skies Take the Public to the Edge of Darkness and Beyond The current program for Southwest Skies includes (but is continuing to grow): Thursday, October 1, 2026 Green Valley Rec Center West, 1111 GVR Dr., Green Valley, AZ 85614 Exhibits, activities, food trucks, music, and solar telescopes, 5:00pm-9:00pm Visions of a Southwest Sky pop-uppop up juried art show, 5:00pm-9:00pm Artists can learn more and submit artwork at: southwestskies.cfa.harvard.edu/art-show Prizes include a Plein Air studio session behind the private gates at Whipple Observatory and a private tour of the Hartmann Art Gallery at the Planetary Science Institute Community Performance & Arts Center, 1250 W Continental Rd, Green Valley, AZ 85622 Light Speed Lectures, 6:00pm-7:30pm Tickets free but strongly suggested. Visit CPAC online to secure your tickets. Star party with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, 7:30pm-9:00pm Friday, October 2, 2026 Whipple Observatory, 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd., Amado, Arizona 85645 Open house visits to the lower observatory, 10:00am-3:00pm Hands-on activities, solar telescopes, and demonstrations, 11:00am-2:00pm Up Close with VERITAS walking tours, 8:30am and 10:00am Santa Rita Springs, 921 W Via Rio Fuerte, Green Valley, AZ 85614 “Protecting Our Dark Skies” presentation with Dark Sky Defenders, 6:00pm-7:00pm Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code Open Q&A and Community Forum with Tucson and Pima County staff and members of the Outdoor Lighting Code Committee, 7:00pm-8:30pm Telescopes and constellation tour with Apache Point Observatory and Whipple Observatory, 7:30pm-9:00pm Arizona Family Restaurant, 80 W Esperanza Blvd, Green Valley, AZ 85614 Space Trivia, 6:00pm Saturday, October 3, 2026 Whipple Observatory, 670 Mt. Hopkins Rd., Amado, Arizona 85645 Open house visits to the lower observatory, 10:00am-3:00pm Hands-on activities, solar telescopes, and demonstrations, 11:00am-2:00pm Up Close with VERITAS walking tours, 8:30am and 10:00am Santa Rita Springs, 921 W Via Rio Fuerte, Green Valley, AZ 85614 Keynote presentation: Gabrelle Saurage, Site Director, Whipple Observatory, 6:30pm-7:30pm Star Party with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, Apache Point Observatory, and friends, 7:30pm-9:00pm
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