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With the one-year anniversary of his death approaching at the end of the month, community members and lawmakers from the city, state and federal level gathered Tuesday to honor Dean Lindsey.
Lindsey was a civil engineer who guided many Arizona infrastructure projects, like the Deck Park Tunnel and the "last mile" of the I-10 in the 1980s.
As of this week, the I-10 freeway tunnel near downtown Phoenix is officially the Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel.
Lindsey also pushed to develop the nearby Margaret T. Hance Park, which is located right above the tunnel. A plaque was erected there to recognize his vision.
“Using the Proposition 300 funding, working with MAG, the Federal Highway Administration,” said ADOT Director Jennifer Toth, “he really was an architect in guiding the early development of the Valley’s freeway program.”
Phoenix City Councilwoman Ann O’Brien also praised his ability to collaborate.
“Thanks to Dean's ingenuity, innovative thinking and relentless efforts to partner with the city and the Federal Highway Administration and all those other layers in between and a few associations as well,” said O’Brien, “we are able to rival cities like Dallas and Philadelphia.”
Lindsey’s daughter Laura Felten accepted a replica plaque on her family’s behalf.
“As Steve and I take our children through the tunnel,” said Felten, “we always proudly say to them, ‘We're going through Papa's tunnel!’ It's an honor that the tunnel now bears his name and is a testament to his dedication and impact to the state of Arizona.”
