Arizona panel OKs upgrade of Union Pacific crossing in Tucson

The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved a $120 million project that includes a major upgrade to a Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Tucson, the commission announced this week.

Designed to improve safety and traffic flow, the project will remove a grade crossing at Interstate 10 and Ina Road in Tucson. I-10 will be lowered to ground level and widened to eight lanes, with Ina Road raised to cross over Camino de Oeste, the tracks, and I-10, commission officials said in a press release.

Ina Road will be reconstructed into a six-lane road with turn lanes, bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

Removing the grade crossing will eliminate the congestion that occurs between trains and vehicular traffic, commission officials said.

A portion of the project will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Construction is slated to begin in fall and be completed in 24 months.

The grade crossing upgrade is part of a larger project that extends from east of Ruthrauff Road to east of Prince Road.