I-11 Lawsuit can continue

On May 25, 2023 we received wonderful news that our lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and ADOT for their I-11 plans can go forward.

A little background about this ruling: In April 2022, FIF, the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, and Tucson Audubon Society joined with the Center for Biological Diversity to file a lawsuit to force FHWA/ADOT to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed I-11 corridor through Avra Valley. ADOT’s position is that no documentation is required for the proposed freeway’s environmental impact on Ironwood Forest National Monument, Tucson Mountain Park, and Saguaro National Park West. In 2022, ADOT and its federal partners filed a motion to have a portion of our lawsuit against them thrown out. In January, 2023, U.S. District Judge John Hinderaker heard arguments on the federal government’s motion to dismiss a portion of the lawsuit. 

This is an important decision and we appreciate all the hard work of attorney Wendy Park. Friends of Ironwood Forest and our partners will continue to fight against putting a freeway next to our beloved national monument and other parks.

To learn more about this issue, please visit the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection’s I-11 webpage.