PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey joined the mayors of Phoenix and Tempe and the president of the Gila River Indian Community to christen the South Mountain Freeway.
Wednesday's event comes as construction of the 22-mile freeway nears completion. The $1.7 billion freeway will allow drivers to bypass downtown Phoenix's traffic and is set to open by the end of the year. It will connect the western Phoenix suburbs with those on the eastern side and is expected to carry nearly 120,000 vehicles a day in its first year.
The tribe initially opposed the freeway, along with environmental and community groups.
