Grady: Funding needed to fix State Route 88/Apache Trail

I was disappointed in the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent’s front page, October 2023 article, “Tortilla Flat owners: ADOT transparency needed on SR88 project.”

While it called out the huge issue of lack of ADOT’s transparency, something I keep calling out as well, I felt the article fell short of really getting to the point. ADOT has dropped the ball and we are taking it.

Nobody gives a crap about transparency, nobody gives a crap about public input, there is no accountability to the public, that has become quite evident to me in this whole mess and in the other “projects” of my concern in the area.

What was even more disappointing is the Independent’s Page 2 article, “$44M in federal funds going to Weekes Wash project” for flood issues in our area no less. What worse flood issue could we point to other than the SR88?

Chip Wilson was commended in this article for securing that $44M from a bipartisan infrastructure law. That’s a slap in the face of those of us working so hard for over four years to get funding to fix SR88.

I was present at the SR88 committee meeting in Supervisor Serdy’s office the day that Chip Wilson proclaimed he was working the issue of SR88 flood repair with Sens. Kelly and Sinema. Well, where is that funding, mayor? Where is the advocacy from you, Supervisor Serdy, surely you knew about this $44M.

It is becoming all too apparent to us, your constituents, your customers that you have gone awry. Clean it up now, get your funding and your priorities in line with us, please.

Editor’s note: Grady lives in unincorporated Pinal County near Apache Junction.