Tucson, Arizona – A damaged Interstate 10 sign near Kolb Road briefly confused Tucson motorists after revealing a Phoenix road name.
The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed this week that a freeway sign along eastbound I-10 near Kolb Road was recently struck by a vehicle, knocking off part of its overlay and exposing an older sign beneath it. The underlying panel referenced Bethany Home Road, a major east-west street located more than 100 miles away in the Phoenix and Glendale area.
According to ADOT, the sign was originally manufactured at the agency’s Sign Shop in Phoenix, where large freeway signs—some measuring up to 16 feet by 30 feet—are built and routinely reused to save taxpayer money. At some point, the original Phoenix-area sign was reassigned to Tucson and fitted with a new overlay listing Kolb Road, Rita Road, and Houghton Road distances.
The recent crash damaged one of the sign’s support legs and dislodged the overlay, making the mismatched destinations visible to passing drivers. Photos of the sign circulated on social media, prompting questions and speculation about why a Phoenix street appeared on a Tucson freeway.
ADOT said the sign is too badly damaged to repair. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to repair it with it being so badly damaged,” said Daniel Acosta, a supervisor in ADOT’s Southcentral District, in a statement shared by the agency.
Crews plan to replace the sign with a new one, though ADOT did not provide a specific timeline for installation. No injuries were reported in the incident that damaged the sign.
The brief mix-up drew particular attention from commuters and students who rely on I-10 daily, especially during peak travel hours on Tucson’s east side.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook and support local independent news.
Have a tip? Message us.
