www.SanTanSun.com
Community Drivers prepare for Gilbert Rd. widening by Ann N. Videan, APR
Neighbor feedback is in, funding is in place and now construction can begin on the long-awaited widening of Gilbert Road between Queen Creek and Ocotillo roads. “This mile of Gilbert Road is a two-lane country road designed for an average of 15,000 to 20,000 drivers a day, but it currently carries an average of 29,000,” says City of Chandler Public Information Offi cer Jim Phipps. “Widening it to six lanes, three lanes in each direction, will make travel safer. This project is welcomed; people have been waiting for it.”
Chandler was able to allocate local funds to the mile-long project, delayed by the economy, by redirecting new, longer- term, federal grant dollars to intersection- widening projects at Dobson Road and Chandler Boulevard, and at Alma School and Ray roads.
Achen-Gardner Construction, the company that managed last year’s streetscape improvements through downtown Chandler, is expected to commence work by late December, incorporating input from three public meetings with businesses and neighborhoods.
Gilbert Road from Germann to Queen Creek was widened to six lanes in 2009, so this upcoming 10-month project will continue the six-lane confi guration another
project to Hunt Highway. The overall cost is an estimated $12.5 million.
Submitted photo
NEIGHBORLY INPUT: Project Manager Ray Buglion and Transportation & Development Director R. J. Zeder, gesturing, talk with neighbors and introduce contractor Achen- Gardner Construction at a Nov. 3 public meeting.
Project enhancements include landscaped medians, designated bike lanes, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, right and left turn lanes and bus pullouts. It also involves extensive water, reclaimed water and sewer infi ll work, the burying of telephone lines, and the addition of left and right turn lanes at the Ocotillo and Gilbert roads intersection. Achen-Gardner crews will start by expanding the temporary traffi c signals at Ocotillo and Gilbert and installing water and reclaimed water pipelines off the roadway on the east side of Gilbert Road, north and south of Ocotillo. This will allow work to begin without traffi c restrictions during the holidays.
The widening will take place one side at a time. Construction work will typically start after the morning rush hour, around 8:30 a.m., and end before evening rush hour, near 3:30 p.m. Phipps says there may be periodic night and weekend work.
“One lane will always be open in each direction, so drivers won’t have fewer lanes than they already have. But, expect slower traffi c,” says Phipps.
Submitted image
EXPECT DELAYS: The section of Gilbert Road to be widened at Queen Creek Road, top, and Ocotillo Road, bottom, in Southern Chandler.
A project hotline and website will address resident questions or concerns about progress or traffi c restrictions at 480-898-4100 and
www.gilbertroadimprovements.com.
Ann N. Videan, APR, is the author, singer and songwriter of “Rhythms & Muse” novel and music CD at
www.anvidean.com. She also owns
mile south to Ocotillo Road. The widening of the next mile to Chandler Heights Road will take place in 2012 and 2013. Additional funding is needed to complete the
vIDEAn Unlimited, a business-tribe development and word-of-mouth marketing consultancy,
www.videanunlimited.com. Contact her at
Ann@SanTanSun.com.
Nov. 19 - Dec. 2, 2011
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