The Gila River Indian Community has filed a lawsuit over the proposed path of the South Mountain Freeway being planned in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The tribe is challenging the recent decision by the Federal Highway Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation to build the freeway along the path that borders the community and runs through land the tribe considers sacred.
The tribe also filed a motion Tuesday to consolidate the suit with another one filed last month by a coalition of environmental and community groups.
The previous suit also maintains the Loop 202 extension from Laveen to Chandler will cause significant environmental harm.
The federal government cleared ADOT to proceed with the project in March. It’s expected to cost about $1.9 billion.