The Gila River Indian Community is allowing the Arizona Department of Transportation access to the reservation to complete a highway study.
The tribe, however, is not dropping its opposition to placing the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway on the reservation. "That's not even on the table," spokesperson Alia Maisonet told The Arizona Republic.
ADOT expects to release the environmental impact study for the highway within a year.
The state has to address the impact on tribal cultural resources near the proposed route north of the reservation.
The state is
Get the Story:South Mountain Freeway study approved (The Arizona Republic 11/28)
Environmental study delays Ahwatukee freeway decision (The East Valley Tribune 11/27) Relevant Links:
Gila River Indian Community - http://www.gric.nsn.us
Gila River Indian Community economic development - http://www.gilariverdevelopment.com Related Stories:
Gila River Indian Community caught in freeway fire (5/12)
Gila River committee rejects freeway study (5/11)
Gila River governor pushing for vote on freeway (04/27)
Gila River landowners plan large development (04/12)
New Gila River governor targets corruption within tribe (03/07)
Arizona tribe facing pressure on highway proposal (11/29)
Arizona tribe debates use of land for new freeway (08/04)
