TUCSON, AZ — Arizona is facing new challenges with its plans for a highway connecting Nogales and Wickenburg. Conservationists are raising concerns, leading to a pause in planning.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration have decided to suspend their plans. They are re-evaluating the highway’s impact on endangered species, public land, and water resources.
Russ McSpadden, a conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the previous environmental analysis, calling it “deeply flawed.” He emphasized the potential destruction of vital areas like the Sonoran Desert National Monument and the threats to endangered species, including the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. McSpadden hopes the agencies will take community concerns seriously this time.
Environmental groups warn that the highway could harm other protected wildlife as well. The federal transportation officials will now assess whether the project meets environmental laws and will allow a 60-day period for public comment.
One species of concern is the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. According to McSpadden, building I-11 would require clearing Saguaro and Palo Verde forests, which are crucial habitats for the owl.
Kate Hotten, co-executive director of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, insists that the review should genuinely consider the environmental risks and called for the west option to be abandoned. She believes preserving areas like Saguaro National Park and the Pima pineapple cactus is essential for protecting fragile ecosystems.
Interstate 11 aims to connect Las Vegas to Nogales, potentially stretching all the way to the Canadian border.
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