According to the Town of Marana, the Tangerine Road underpass at Interstate 10 will remain at one lane in each direction through March 2027. For residents and visitors traveling between Northwest Tucson, Marana, Phoenix, and surrounding communities, the construction has become a familiar part of the drive.
Less widely understood is that March 2027 does not mark the completion of all planned improvements. The Town's project information indicates that the new lanes being constructed beneath the bridge will become fully functional after separate Union Pacific Railroad improvements are completed. That phase does not yet have a finalized construction schedule.
For Saguaro Ranch owners and prospective buyers, the Tangerine Road corridor is an important connection to I-10, Tucson International Airport, downtown Tucson, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and destinations throughout Southern Arizona. The current construction creates temporary inconvenience, but it is also part of continuing transportation investment in Marana and Northwest Tucson.
Where the Work Stands in Late September
The official project is the Tangerine Road and I-10 Traffic Interchange Improvements (ST107). Psomas designed the project, and Borderland Construction is completing the work. The Town introduced the construction campaign as “The Great Tangerine Squeeze,” with the slogan “Sour Now, Sweet Later.”
The project is progressing through several phases. Phase 1, which added a dedicated westbound turn lane and additional vehicle storage, has been completed. Phases 2 through 4 focused on improvements to the eastbound intersection, including new signal poles, a dedicated eastbound turn lane, and the realignment of the on- and off-ramps. Phase 5 is currently underway and is expected to continue through March 2027. This phase includes the construction of new lanes along the underpass supports, a drainage basin, and improved sidewalk connectivity. A separate railroad crossing improvement phase will be required before the new abutment lanes can fully open. That work includes new signals, intersection improvements, and railroad track expansion and is currently in final design, with the construction schedule still to be determined. The ultimate interchange, including additional intersection improvements and a grade-separated crossing, is planned as a future project and remains subject to funding.
The current traffic restriction began July 14, when construction of a soil-nail wall on the north side of the interchange to accommodate a new abutment lane began. Traffic beneath I-10 was reduced to one lane in each direction. The westbound off-ramp, used by drivers approaching from Tucson, is also reduced to a single turn lane through March 2027.
Why March 2027 Is Not the End of the Project
One of the more important distinctions for residents and visitors is the difference between the construction of the new lanes and their actual opening to traffic. Phase 5 constructs the abutment lanes. A separate railroad project is necessary before those lanes can become fully operational.
According to the Town, the railroad phase requires additional review and approval by Union Pacific Railroad and the Arizona Corporation Commission. It will also require temporary full closure of Tangerine Road at the railroad crossing, currently anticipated to last approximately eight weeks.
During that closure, Tangerine Road is expected to remain open beneath the I-10 bridge, and the interstate ramps will remain accessible, although intermittent ramp closures may occur. As of late September 2026, the final construction date and detour plan for the railroad crossing work have not been published. For anyone planning a visit, coordinating construction activity, or hosting guests in 2027, the important distinction is simple: March 2027 marks a key construction milestone, but additional work will follow.
The Phoenix Bound Left Turn Remains Open
There is some positive news for drivers traveling toward Phoenix and Scottsdale. Although an earlier project notice indicated that the left turn from eastbound Tangerine Road onto the westbound Phoenix-bound I-10 entrance ramp would be restricted through October 30th, the Town subsequently canceled that restriction.
Access to the Phoenix-bound entrance ramp currently remains open. For Saguaro Ranch residents, that connection is particularly useful for trips north to Scottsdale, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and other destinations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Because construction schedules can change, travelers should continue checking the Town of Marana's traffic alerts before making longer trips.
Other Routes Continue to Improve
Tangerine Road is not the only transportation corridor receiving investment in this part of Marana.
The Town previously identified Marana Road, Avra Valley Road, and Twin Peaks Road as alternative interstate access points during construction-related closures. These are not currently designated as official detours for future railroad work, but they provide additional connections to I-10.
Twin Peaks Road has also undergone significant improvements. The Town announced in August that the Twin Peaks Road Widening Project had entered its final phase. The project expanded the roadway from the western edge of Saguaro Bloom to Silverbell Road into a four-lane arterial and included drainage improvements, sidewalks, landscaping, and intersection upgrades.
The improvements reflect broader infrastructure investment occurring throughout this portion of Marana.
Looking Beyond the Current Construction
The Tangerine Road project is considered an interim improvement rather than the final configuration of the interchange. The regional transportation plan identifies a future permanent interchange that includes a grade-separated crossing over the railroad and I-10. That project is currently identified for fiscal years 2032 through 2036 and remains subject to future planning and funding.
Other transportation projects are anticipated sooner. Plans identify a future Moore Road and interchange with a railroad grade separation, along with widening Thornydale Road from Cortaro Road to Tangerine Road. Phase 2B of the Tangerine Road widening project, extending from Marana Tech Drive to Dove Mountain and Twin Peaks Boulevard, is also in the design phase.
Commercial development is occurring alongside those transportation investments. Marana's development updates have identified several businesses near the Tangerine Road and I-10 corridor as under construction, recently completed, or under review. Together, these projects provide a broader picture of an area that continues to grow as its transportation infrastructure evolves.
Residents Have an Opportunity to Participate
The Arizona Department of Transportation is also conducting the I-10 Marana to Cortaro Roads Traffic Circulation Study, which examines potential ways to reduce delays at I-10 intersections between Marana Road and Cortaro Road.
The current planning schedule anticipates a draft preferred alternative and community traffic study survey in fall 2026, followed by work on a draft traffic circulation report in spring 2027 and a final report and preliminary design plans beginning in summer 2027. Residents who regularly travel the Tangerine Road corridor will have an opportunity to provide input as that process moves forward.
What This Means for Saguaro Ranch
Infrastructure may not be the first consideration when someone imagines life at Saguaro Ranch, but accessibility is an important part of choosing where to live.
Saguaro Ranch offers the privacy and natural setting of the Tortolita Mountains while remaining connected to Marana, Tucson, I-10, Tucson International Airport, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the broader Southern Arizona region. Improvements to Tangerine Road, Twin Peaks Road, and the surrounding transportation network are therefore relevant to both current owners and prospective buyers.
For now, the Tangerine Road construction requires some patience. It is also part of a much longer period of investment in the infrastructure serving this growing area of Marana. At Saguaro Ranch, we keep track of changes throughout Marana and Northwest Tucson because access, infrastructure, and the surrounding community are all part of choosing where to live.
If you are planning a visit, we will help you navigate the current Tangerine Road construction and experience what awaits on the other side of Saguaro Ranch's approximately 700-foot tunnel.
Schedule a private visit and discover a community designed around the Sonoran Desert.
