Shope details how his new position impacts local economy
by Aaron Dorman | Coolidge Examiner
When he was elected last year, T.J. Shope became only the second state senator from Coolidge. Having represented the district as a member of the House of Representatives since 2013, Shope said despite the “light-years’ difference” between the two offices, he was committed to help fight for Coolidge and the local economy.
At the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon Wednesday, March 17, Shope outlined recent legislation that he’d been involved with that would affect the region.
One significant bill that Shope sponsored was funding for the widening of Interstate 10 between Chandler and Casa Grande. That includes a replacement for the current I-10 Gila River Bridge; construction is expected to begin in 2022. Shope said the widening of the highway is important for businesses like Nikola Motors and Lucid Motor Company, and he also praised the Gila Indian River Community for being a “fantastic working partner” on the legislation.
