The Mesa City Council recently voted to approve a contract that would fund the expansion of roadways near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

The contract was approved April 15 as part of a consent agenda that passed 6-0, with Councilmember Scott Somers of District 6 absent.

The contract of around $4.95 million will allow for the development of a roadway that would connect South Sossaman Road to Ray Road, thus completing the three-way connection between the two streets and Warner Road near the airport. A staff report recommended awarding the contract to Hunter Contracting.

“This project is the construction of Sossaman Road from Ray Road to the developments north of Loop 202. This will complete the Sossaman Road connection from Ray Road to Warner Road,” the staff report said. “The project will construct a four-lane roadway section consisting of two northbound lanes, two southbound lanes and a center median lane... Due to the need to cross two existing ADOT flood channels, this project will also include two vehicular bridges.”

The staff report said the completed project will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the AirPark Corridor. It will also provide an important access route for developers on the north and south side of Loop 202. Construction is expected to take nine months to complete, according to the staff report.