We Americans love to complain about our government, which is not too surprising considering we’re a nation born out of rebellion. But more than often not, and more often than most are willing to admit, government gets it right.

The often-maligned Arizona Department of Transportation deserves no aspersions for its nearly completed $200 million, three-year reconstruction of Interstate 10 between Prince Road and 29th Street.

The project is about six months ahead of schedule and under budget. It should be finished by Christmas.

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Driving to work today I saw that the Speedway off ramp on eastbound Interstate 10 was open. I didn’t notice if the Grant Road off ramp was open also.

I have a call  in to the on-call ADOT media relations person (today’s a holiday for state workers) to see if this is just for the July 4th celebration downtown this weekend or if it’s permanent. I’ll update the post if I hear from him or her.

If permanent, this would be the first off ramp opened since all off and on ramps were closed in June 2007 between Prince Road and 29th Street. Earlier this year, ADOT opened westbound I-10 on ramps at Grant Road and Miracle Mile.

Our long transportation nightmare is slowing coming to an end.

UPDATE: Heard from the ADOT spokeswoman.  The of ramp was opened Thursday morning and is permanent. Other on and off ramps will open in the coming weeks as the improvements are completed.