Expect major delays on I-10 starting on October 26

Tucson residents planning a drive to California should expect a long-running obstacle on Interstate 10 near the Arizona state line. Starting Oct. 26, the Arizona Department of Transportation will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction on a 12-mile section of I-10 near Ehrenberg. The restrictions will be in place around the clock on weekdays, creating a potential bottleneck for people traveling west from Tucson toward the Colorado River, California and destinations beyond.

The work is scheduled to continue through summer 2027, so this will not be a brief inconvenience tied to a single weekend or holiday. ADOT says the project will involve repaving the interstate, replacing guardrails, installing new signs and improving drainage. Those upgrades are intended to address several parts of the highway at once, but the construction will require drivers to share reduced lanes through the work zone during the week.

For Tucson travelers, the timing matters because I-10 is the primary highway connection between Southern Arizona and the West Coast. A trip that normally takes travelers through Phoenix and toward the California border can be disrupted by backups near Ehrenberg, particularly when traffic is heavy or incidents occur in the narrowed work area. Drivers should build extra time into their plans and check conditions before leaving, especially for longer trips where a delay near the state line can affect arrival times much farther west.

The Ehrenberg project is part of a broader pattern of work and traffic changes along the I-10 corridor. In Goodyear, west of Phoenix, city officials have prepared for substantial congestion connected to the opening of Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s near I-10 and Bullard Avenue. The grand opening is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 22, with the parking lot opening to the public at midnight and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m.

Goodyear officials have said the Buc-ee’s opening should be treated as a major event rather than an ordinary stop at a gas station. The city created a dedicated 6.5-mile route for visitors, and traffic on that route may move slowly or stop completely. Drivers entering the store are directed to use the eastbound or westbound I-10 exits at Bullard Avenue, then follow the city route into the parking lot. The eastbound I-10 ramp at Estrella Parkway will also be closed, and Bullard Avenue will be closed between McDowell Road and I-10 as part of the event traffic plan.

That Goodyear traffic plan is separate from the long-term paving project near Ehrenberg, but it illustrates how changes at different points along I-10 can affect people traveling between Tucson and California. Visitors who are not headed to Buc-ee’s have been advised to avoid the congested area and consider alternate routes. The city says access to businesses and residences along the 6.5-mile route and elsewhere on Bullard Avenue will remain open, although everyone in the area should allow more time.

The city has recommended carpooling and ridesharing for Buc-ee’s visitors, while Goodyear’s WeRIDE micro-transit program will not provide service to the store during the week of the grand opening. Officials also warned visitors about the Arizona heat, urging people to drink water, wear light clothing, use sunscreen and bring hats because shade will be limited in waiting areas. Parking on freeway ramps, shoulders, medians and nearby roads is prohibited, and illegally parked vehicles could be cited or towed.

Longer-term changes are also coming to I-10 for electric vehicle drivers, although those projects are intended to improve travel options rather than restrict them. ADOT is moving forward with a statewide plan to build more than 70 charging stations after a federal court restored $76.5 million in funding that had been frozen. The agency submitted an updated plan for federal review in September, following a public comment period that ended Sept. 8. The funding freeze delayed the effort by roughly seven to eight months.

The first phase calls for 18 interstate charging locations, including stations along I-10 from the California border near Yuma through Phoenix and Tucson to New Mexico. For Tucson drivers, the closest planned new facility is a seven-port Tesla station at Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q on East Ajo Way near I-10. ADOT expects construction to begin this year and the first stations to be operating in 2026, although federal officials have not provided a timetable for reviewing the updated plan. A second solicitation is expected this fall for 34 additional stations, while a proposed third phase would add about 21 stations along nine new corridor segments.

Each charging location must have at least four high-speed chargers capable of 150-kilowatt charging and operate around the clock. Private companies will build and run the stations, contribute 20% of project costs and handle maintenance over time. ADOT will monitor performance for five years after a station opens. If the full plan receives approval and proceeds as planned, the statewide network could be operational by 2028, providing charging access along major corridors at intervals intended to help drivers avoid being stranded. For Tucsonans using I-10, that future network will develop alongside years of construction and periodic congestion, making advance trip planning increasingly important.