The city of Apache Junction and Maricopa Association of Governments are reviewing applicants for a consultant to run a study of U.S. Highway 60 from Ironwood Drive to Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon.
City staff last year contacted MAG about the projected future travel demand on U.S. 60, Management Analyst Robert Wisler told the city council March 3.
“(W)e saw future traffic forecast data in 2050, even in 2040-50 data we were seeing the U.S. 60 was not meeting the capacity that was projected on that roadway,” he said. “MAG proposed doing a corridor study — basically to outline what the future conditions of that corridor should be, what improvements need to be made on it so it functions well.”
The study is in the MAG budget, Wisler said.
When the consultant is chosen, it will begin the study process that should conclude in early 2027, Wisler said.
“From there we’re likely going to have recommendations in terms of ... what the highway will look like in the future. So we will be kind of moving next from this corridor study to environmentals and final design, getting the funding for this piece and then be looking at construction beyond that,” Wisler said.
Councilmember Darryl Cross asked if the study could be moved south past the Arizona Renaissance Festival, which is at 12601 E. U.S. Highway 60 in Gold Canyon.
“I mean it just seems like Peralta Road is getting busier and busier,” he said.
City staff did ask to extend the study to Peralta Road, Wisler told the council.
“We asked first about going down to the renaissance festival. Unfortunately that piece didn’t work because for a corridor study ... you have to have a definitive endpoint. It has to go to like another freeway or highway, and there’s nothing at the renaissance festival in terms of that sort of waypoint,” he said. “We also asked about doing Peralta, going to Peralta. The other issue is that funding is limited and it is a huge stretch that we have already.”
No council decision was made on the study March 3 as the topic on the agenda was a discussion item.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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