ADOT purchases Laveen homes for 202 expansion

It's a project that has been pushing for years, the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.

As you may know the project is now underway, the Arizona Department of Transportation bought up dozens of Ahwatukee homes in the way of the planned freeway and last month began bulldozing them.

Now we're learning that another Valley neighborhood is being affected by the project, homes in Laveen.

The homes are being purchased to make way for the new freeway, and one family says they have to leave the home that they've lived in for more than thirty years.

The freeway will go from I-10 in the Ahwatukee Area through South Mountain Park, to the I-10 in the west Valley at 59th Avenue.

A lot of newer homes near Ahwatukee have already been torn down for the freeway, and now families in the west valley, especially north of Baseline are going through the same thing.

David Newsom walked into his family home over the weekend for the final time. The home was built by his father 30-years-ago, and it's being demolished to make way for the new 202 South Mountain Freeway. He knew this day would come when they would have to leave.

"Within the last year the knock finally came on the door, and it was finally that time," said David Newsom.

David says the hardest part for his family will be no longer having a place for parties and holiday gatherings with generations of new family members.

"A lot of kids in the house, a lot of memories that are kinda going to go away with this house and it's just sad," said Newsom.

The house is now empty, the reality setting in that three decades of family memories will soon be bulldozed.

"30 years of memories and stuff in a house full of love and memories, it's not easy with thirty days to empty the house," said Newsom.

David and his siblings realize progress is inevitable, and that soon the view they grew up with on a large lot in Laveen will look much different.

"You know I won't be able to refer to my main childhood memories anymore, it's going to be gone," said Newsom.

Once all the homes and businesses along the new freeway route are torn down, ADOT expects the actual construction of the freeway to begin in the summer of next year. The construction should finish in about four years.