Lower speed limit proposed for stretch of Ellsworth in Mesa

The Mesa City Council has introduced an ordinance that, if passed, will lower the speed limit on Ellsworth Road from Elliot Road to the south city limits along the Queen Creek boundary.

That stretch of road is currently posted at 50 miles per hour and under the proposed ordinance would be reduced to 45 mph.

The ordinance was introduced during the council’s Monday meeting, with a public hearing and possible vote set for Monday, Aug. 31.

“Recent development along this 5-mile stretch of Ellsworth Road has significantly altered corridor characteristics, traffic patterns and roadside activity levels,” according to a town staff report.

The road is flanked by mixed-use commercial, industrial and data center facilities, as well as the Arizona Athletic Grounds and the Eastmark and Cadence communities, the report continued.

“These land uses contribute to higher, sustained traffic volumes, increased turning movement, and greater destinations along the corridor,” the report continued. “The corridor also includes the Ellsworth Road and State Route 24 interchange, which introduces high turning movement demand and access to the region’s state highway system.”

An active capital improvement project is also underway to widen Ellsworth Road to a continuous six-lane arterial cross section between Germann and Ray roads that “will further urbanize the corridor and create roadway conditions more consistent with other 45-mph arterials in the city of Mesa,” the report stated.

The city’s Transportation Advisory Board recommended the speed reduction in January.

The installation of speed limit signs between Ray Road and the south city limits is included in the Ellsworth Road Widening project.

For the remainder of the corridor from Ray to Elliot, the cost to replace 16 speed limit signs is estimated at less than $1,000.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.