I have a question on the proposed and subsequently cancelled Paradise
Freeway. After 1986, I believe ADOT assigned the proposed freeway as SR
50. The freeway had been on the books since 1960. Did ADOT have a
different route number assigned to the Paradise Freeway prior to 1986?
I know at one time it was planned to run across the entire developed
area of Phoenix, roughly 3-4 miles north of the existing Papago and Red
Mountain Freeways.
Back on May 27 1997, Richard Moeur (an ADOT employee--therefore a
pretty trustworthy source) provided a summary here on mtr of the
numbering scheme ADOT had prior to the 1985 passage of Propostion 300:
The present SR 51 was SR 510 (and I-510 before that).
The current SR 101-L was AZ 417 (from I-10 to I-17 - Agua Fria
Section). Current SR 101-L was previously AZ 117 from I-17 to its end
at the Santan Freeway (Pima and Price Freeway Sections).
The current SR 202-L was AZ 217 (from I-10 east to AZ 143). The current
SR 202-L was AZ 216 from SR 143 to the Superstion Freeway in East Mesa.
SR-202-L was AZ 220 from the Superstion Freeway to I-10. The remaining
section of the current SR 202-L (Future South Mountain) was previously
SR 218.
So, can any of you help out a fellow roadgeek with a rather obscure
question on the Paradise Freeway?
Never saw the SR-50 number except here. SR-50 was supposed to have run
a little south down at Glendale, then they switched it up to Northern
where it would have ended at SR-51, there's a partial interchange for
it still standing at Northern, but that is not all that obvious. The
EB lanes of Northern turn into NB SR-51, and the SB 51 to WB 50 ramp
was built. That explains it's length.
.
mt