Widening of a two-mile stretch of East Broadway Boulevard in Tucson, first proposed 28 years ago, gained City Council approval Tuesday evening.
The widening, from four lanes to six plus bicycle lanes and sidewalks, will be between Euclid Avenue and Country Club Road. The project will cost $70 million, with most of the money going for property acquisition.
The project was scaled down earlier this year from eight lanes - one in each direction for buses - to the six lanes that were approved. Bus pullouts will be built as part of the project, in place of dedicated traffic lanes. At its widest, the road will be 98 feet.
Delay upon delay in planning for the widening have frozen property owners in place for years, with investments minimal because of the uncertainty over what land would be taken for the project. Some longtime businesses will be taken for the project, and others will lose at least some of their parking.
Land acquisition will be the first step, city officials said, with construction expected to begin within three years.
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