One more time: Another round of Grant Road construction expected to begin in 2029

Tucson drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and businesses along Grant Road are facing another major construction cycle, although the work is still several years away. The Regional Transportation Authority says the final two phases of the long-running Grant Road Improvement Project are expected to begin in summer 2029. The planned work will affect Grant Road between Fremont Avenue and Sparkman Boulevard, while businesses along other sections of the corridor are already feeling the effects of property acquisition, uncertainty and related construction activity.

Phases 5 and 6 are expected to be the last pieces of a transportation program that has been underway for nearly two decades. The estimated construction cost is about $50 million, not including the cost of acquiring property. When finished, the project is expected to give Grant Road an additional travel lane in each direction, creating a six-lane roadway. Plans also call for a raised median, wider sidewalks, buffered bicycle lanes, improved drainage, protected crossings and upgraded bus stops and transit pullouts.

The changes are intended to address more than vehicle movement on one of Tucson’s major east-west routes. Transportation officials say the improvements should make the corridor safer and more accessible while creating better connections for people driving, walking, bicycling or using public transportation. At Campbell Avenue, the design includes an indirect left-turn arrangement intended to improve traffic flow and safety. The project will also include new or improved signalized crossings, according to information associated with the work.

There is still a substantial amount of preparation before construction can begin. The city is continuing to acquire the right of way needed for the project, a process expected to continue into next year. Final design plans are anticipated at the beginning of 2027. Utility relocation could then begin as early as 2028 and continue into 2029, before the major roadway work starts. The utilities involved may include electric, gas and communications infrastructure, meaning residents and businesses could see preliminary activity well before the road is rebuilt.

The timing is particularly significant for businesses that rely on Grant Road visibility and convenient access. Dante’s Tavern, in its distinctive A-frame building, announced that it will close July 19 after 13 years. Owner and chef Kenneth Foy cited several issues, including a planned remodel, changing neighborhood conditions and the future widening of Grant Road between Tucson Boulevard and Country Club Road. The combination of remodeling needs and uncertainty about the project’s timing made it too difficult for the restaurant to continue, according to information provided to local media.

American Antique Mall, at 3130 E. Grant Road, is also preparing to leave after more than three decades. The store has operated since 1993 and says it is Tucson’s oldest antique mall. Its roughly 7,500 square feet hold antiques, jewelry, Native American items, turquoise, furniture and collectibles. Owner Dwight Schannep said the city plans to purchase the property for the Grant Road widening, requiring the business to vacate. The owners expect the purchase to be completed by this time next year and plan to begin liquidating inventory in the fall.

Those closures illustrate that the project’s effects can begin long before construction crews close lanes or install new pavement. Businesses can be affected by proposed property purchases, prolonged uncertainty and concerns about how future work will change customer access. Dante’s Tavern is leaving after 13 years, while American Antique Mall is preparing to depart after 33 years at its location. Their situations also show how a project intended to improve safety and mobility can impose permanent costs on businesses that have become familiar parts of the corridor.

Grant Road has already experienced multiple rounds of disruption. Earlier this year, the city advised that a section between Interstate 10 and Fairview would be closed in both directions for more than two months as part of ongoing work. Construction was expected to continue beyond the summer, with that phase scheduled for completion by October. City officials encouraged residents to keep visiting affected businesses and identified assistance through the RTA Mainstreet Business Alliance. For future work, city transportation officials also say grants may be available to businesses anticipating construction along their streets.

The city’s Department of Transportation and Mobility says the final Grant Road work is expected to be completed in 2031, giving the community an end point after years of construction. Until then, residents can expect right-of-way activity, utility relocations and eventually another significant rebuilding effort. The project promises wider lanes, safer crossings, improved sidewalks and stronger bicycle and transit facilities, but the departures of Dante’s Tavern and American Antique Mall underscore the question facing Tucson and the RTA: how can major public improvements be delivered while protecting the small businesses that give Grant Road its local identity?