The proposed widening of Grant Road has received a lot of publicity lately, but we haven’t heard much about another project further south that will do the same thing. Just like on Grant Road, the planned widening of 22^nd Street would result in the demolition of homes and businesses along the route.

As with Grant Road, the 22^nd Street widening project was approved by voters in the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election. 22^nd Street sees a high volume of traffic, especially near the bridge that towers above Barraza Aviation Parkway.

Ambrosia Pedersoli, who owns a home on 22^nd Street, is not pleased with what the future may hold for her. “I don’t want to move,” she says. When you’ve lived here for so long, you get used to it. I’m really sad about it. I’ve been here since my childhood, and I don’t want to see it go.”

City officials say approximately 100,000 vehicles pass through the triangle between 22^nd Street, Kino Parkway and Barraza Aviation Parkway each day, and because of this high volume of traffic, they need to make some changes.

“It’s a critical project for traffic flow within the central part of the city,” says Andrew Singelakis of the Tucson Department of Transportation. “It’s really in the geographic center of Tucson, and will be needed to facilitate that traffic flow.”

The project includes widening 22^nd Street to six lanes by starting on the bridge over the railroad and going east to Tucson Boulevard, then building an overpass for Kino Parkway over 22^nd Street. That alignment configuration could affect nearly 60 properties in the area. The proposed project was worked on by city planners and a Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

Still, construction is a heartbreaking thought for those who live in the way of progress. “I’d rather stay in my neighborhood, because I like the people and I know the people,” says Pedersoli.

Tucson City Council will have a public hearing on Tuesday, November 18, on the proposed alignment. Once it’s approved, the city will begin the design phase with construction expected to begin in 2010.