Majority of Ahwatukee, Laveen Voters Also Want Freeway Built
In a sample of 400 likely voters, 64.3 percent favored building the new route on Pecos Road and through South Mountain Park as a way to relieve traffic congestion on the regional freeway system and reduce Valley air pollution. Only 19.6 percent either opposed or thought they would likely oppose the route.
A similar poll conducted of 300 likely voters living in Ahwatukee and Laveen revealed 59% of residents in the corridor support building the freeway versus 35 percent who oppose the project.
“These results clearly show widespread regional and local support for this project,” said David Martin, Chairman of the We Build Arizona coalition. “Voters want this project because it will absolutely reduce traffic congestion across the Valley and help reduce air pollution in the region.”
The freeway’s ability to reduce traffic back-ups across the Valley topped voters’ list of reasons why they support the project, followed by the benefits to Police and Fire units and the $2 billion boost to the economy in spending and jobs during construction.
Martin said the polls confirm that voters’ opinions of the project have remained steadfast for 28 years, noting the freeway has been approved at the ballot box twice, first in 1985 and again in 2004.
“With these polls, voters have spoken yet again. There is no more important project to the area’s commuters and workers than the South Mountain freeway project. We must build it now,” Martin concluded.