TUCSON, AZ (April 17, 2026) — After months of discussion and limited visible activity, site work is now underway on the proposed Project Blue data center campus near Houghton Road and Interstate 10.
The site, located just north of the Pima County Fairgrounds, is beginning to show signs of movement as this year’s fair gets underway. Recent drone footage shows a newly installed gate allowing construction equipment onto the property, one of the clearest indications yet that early-stage development has begun.
The Pima County Fair runs from April 16-26 this year, and traffic is already emerging as a concern for fairgoers and nearby residents. The Pima County Fair Authority said it has a traffic plan in place and expects fair operations to continue running smoothly.
Dust control is another issue as crews begin grading the desert site. Removing vegetation and disturbing native soil can increase airborne dust during large-scale site preparation. The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality said it has issued a dust control permit to Project Blue contractors and provided requirements intended to limit dust from leaving the site.
Beale Infrastructure, the company developing the data center complex, said the Houghton Road project remains on track to be operational in 2028.
“The Houghton Road data center project is anticipated to be operational in 2028. Construction is currently underway – including clearing and grading – for early stage site development. Dust mitigation plans are in place and being managed on a daily basis, and closely monitored at all times,” the company said in a statement.
For now, the start of clearing and grading marks the most visible sign to date that the Project Blue site is entering its first phase of development.