The Queen Creek Town Council approved a project agreement with the Maricopa Association of Governments that will allow reimbursement for a more than $19 million project on Hawes Road.
The council voted 5-0 at its Wednesday meeting to approve the agreement. Council Members Dawn Oliphant and Travis Padilla were absent. The agreement was on the council’s consent agenda in which all items are handled through one motion and vote.
The “Hawes Road: Rittenhouse Road to Jude Drive” project will widen the road by two lanes in each direction. It also includes a center turn lane and bicycle lanes, according to a staff report.
“At the intersection of Hawes Road and Queen Creek Road, the existing temporary traffic signal will be replaced with a modern multilane roundabout. The project will also enhance drainage in the area through construction of new drainage channels and basins,” the report continued.
The current estimated cost of the project is more than $19.3 million, and the maximum regional reimbursement amount available is almost $14 million.
For the town to be reimbursed, it must provide a minimum 30% funding match which will be paid through transportation development fees and dedicated construction sales taxes.
Once MAG signs the project agreement, the town can begin construction and start submitting reimbursement requests.
The project is part of the county’s Arterial Life Cycle Program which MAG approved in June. Funds for the program are administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation and disbursed when MAG presents an approved invoice as provided in the project agreement.
In November 2024, voters in Maricopa County approved the continuation of a half-cent sales tax to fund implementation of the Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan that includes revenue allocation for major arterial street projects such as the one slated for Hawes Road.
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.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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