Gilbert Road bridge update: Anticipated opening this summer

By Bob Burns
Mail

People commuting between Fountain Hills and Scottsdale to the East Valley Mesa/Gilbert area have patiently anticipated the reopening of Gilbert Road between the Beeline Highway and Thomas Road in Mesa.

Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) expects to reopen a two-lane span over the Salt River this summer, but as yet there is no firm date, according to Tom Herrmann, MCDOT spokesman.

The new span will allow one-lane traffic in each direction.

While the bridge span is essentially complete, crews have been busy with demolition of the old bridge span across the river and installing new paving between the bridge and SR87. A new traffic signal on Gilbert Road at Thomas Road is also being installed.

Contractors added enhanced structural protection at both ends of the bridge to guard against new flooding events.

Weather issues can impact construction schedules. In fact, it was severe flooding in the Salt River channel in 2023 that actually advanced the construction schedule, because rather than rebuilding a bypass for traffic through the river bottom it was decided to close the road completely and accelerate the project completion date by around six months.

A second phase of the project will construct another two-lane span eventually providing four lanes for traffic over the riverbed.

The bridge project is a joint partnership between Maricopa County, the City of Mesa and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Tribal Community.

The Times Independent invites readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Bob Burns can be reached at bburns@iniusa.org.