Judge Refuses To Block Planned South Mountain Freeway

Published: Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 8:47am
Updated: Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 1:44pm

A judge is refusing to block a planned freeway project in the Phoenix area.

U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa on Tuesday denied a request for a pretrial preliminary injunction.

It was requested by a coalition of environmental and community groups which had filed a suit against the planned South Mountain Freeway.

Humetewa said the coalition didn't show the freeway would cause imminent and irreparable environmental harm.

Howard Shanker, the attorney representing the coalition, said he’s disappointed the request was denied, but said he’s confident his clients will emerge successful.

"But she has agreed to expedite consideration on the merits so that the plan at least my understanding is that she anticipates deciding this case before construction can begin," said Shanker.

RELATED: Tribe Files Suit Over Path Of Planned South Mountain Freeway

The judge is now considering whether to combine the coalition's lawsuit with a separate lawsuit filed by the Gila River Indian Community.

The freeway would extend the Loop 202 by 22 miles to connect Interstate 10 in Chandler and Laveen.

The federal government cleared the Arizona Department of Transportation to proceed with the freeway in March.

KJZZ's Carrie Jung contributed to this report.

Updated 7/30/2015 at 1:40 p.m.

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