The I-10 became less inconvenient this morning. The Arizona Department of Transportation was officially opened the reconstructed Prince Road traffic interchange on Monday at 5 a.m. Reportedly, the Prince Road interchange has been closed for over three years.

From the press release:

The new overpass, which was built 30 feet above ground level on the east side of I-10 and slopes down to reach current ground-level, is a key part of a $76.4 million I-10 widening project between Ruthrauff and Prince roads. The project will upgrade a two-plus mile section of I-10 by increasing capacity, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow on this highly traveled corridor in Tucson.

While the new Prince Road interchange is now open, there is additional work on the I-10 ─ Ruthrauff Road to Prince Road widening project that needs to be completed, including at the Prince Road interchange. The eastbound I-10 entrance ramp at Prince Road will remain closed for another month so that crews can complete landscaping, electrical and barrier installation. The eastbound I-10 exit ramp is currently open and will remain open.

In addition, currently traffic is traveling on the three inside lanes of I-10 and will remain in this configuration through May when ADOT will repave the entire project when temperatures are ideal for this work. Once final paving is completed, I-10 will be expanded to four lanes in each direction.

Following today’s opening, some overnight closures will be needed to complete additional work on I-10 between Ruthrauff Road and Prince Road, including:

Metal artwork at the Prince Road Bridge
Landscaping
Sign structures and existing detour removal
Electrical connections for the high mast lighting
Loop detectors on eastbound I-10 for traffic volume counts and speed classification
Message board installation on eastbound I-10
Rubberized asphalt paving (scheduled to occur in early May)

The discovery this week of the skeletal remains of 3-year-old Roman Barreras demonstrates how high the stakes are in the the fight against child abuse.

Aviva and other community agencies host the annual March for Children to promote child abuse prevention month and recognize those working to prevent abuse. This year's march is on Sunday, April 13. Nominations are being sought for the Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Awards, which "honor those who have made a difference in the continued fight against child abuse."

Here are the award categories:

¨ Resilient Family of the Year: Awarded to a family who has overcome a crisis, successfully navigated the Dependency system, and has put into practice the tools and skills they've acquired by demonstrating strong protective factors. In other words, they've turned a crisis into an opportunity, challenges into strengths, and obstacles into successes.

¨ Keith Smith Foster Parent of the Year: Awarded to an outstanding foster parent(s) who has made an impact in the lives of children and youth in foster care.

¨ Agency/Program/Business: Awarded to any group, program, agency, or business who has made a significant impact in promoting the prevention of child abuse.

¨ Individual: Awarded to any individual who has been involved in making a difference in the prevention of child abuse.

The event on 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 13 takes place at Reid Park at at the band shell in conjunction with Casa de los Niños’ Family Fiesta where there will be family activities, entertainment and refreshments. Click here to fill out a nomination form and get more information.