The Arizona Department of Transportation is hoping a new effort will reduce the amount of time drivers are impacted by flooded interstates during heavy rains. They’ll begin replacing 10 of their oldest freeway pump stations in 2017.
These water pumps can be found in low lying areas of the valley where freeway design and gravity can’t efficiently drain storm water by themselves.
There are about 60 in total, and Doug Nintzel, an ADOT spokesman, said those slated to be replaced are the oldest.
He said they were originally installed in the 1960’s.
"Hopefully, with these upgrades, there will be more reliability," Nintzel said. "We’ll be able to count on these systems to be able to catch up even when flooding does occur."
He said the replacement projects will impact three main areas including Interstate 10 near the deck park tunnel, Interstate 17 near Cactus Road and Thunderbird Road, and along U.S. Route 60 near Val Vista and Gilbert roads.
