Council Unanimous in Support
The Casa Grande City Council unanimously approved Resolution 5791 on July 21, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation for the Thornton Road widening project. The council voted unanimously to move forward with the construction project that will expand the busy corridor from Main Street to Cottonwood Lane.
Councilmember Robert Huddleston made the motion to approve the resolution, which received immediate support from fellow council members.
Project Details and Purpose
The project will add a second through lane in each direction on Thornton Road from Main Street to Cottonwood Lane. Workers will construct two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction along with an additional 4-foot shoulder, which the road currently lacks.
Referring to nearby age communities, Kevin Louis, Director of Public Works, emphasized the importance of the shoulder addition. “There are quite a few age communities and they prefer a paved shoulder to ride their bikes on,” Louis told the council. “This will give them a little extra distance that they can get away from some of their residences there.”
The city is overseeing project design to increase vehicle capacity, enhance safety, and minimize impact to existing utilities. Thornton Road serves as a principal arterial and main access route from Interstate 8, supporting the city’s fast-growing industrial sector and experiencing higher than average truck traffic.
Project Funding Breakdown
The total project cost reaches $4,054,390, with federal funding covering the majority of expenses through FY 2024 Highway Infrastructure Programs (HIP) Congressionally Directed Spending allocation.
| Cost Category | Amount | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project Development Administration | $30,000 | City of Casa Grande |
| Local Construction Match (5.7%) | $229,390 | City of Casa Grande |
| Federal Construction Funding (94.3%) | $3,795,000 | Federal Aid |
| Total Project Cost | $4,054,390 | |
| City’s Total Contribution | $259,390 |
The city’s total contribution of $259,390 combines the Project Development Administration fee and local construction match.
During the discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Matt Herman mentioned that this project reflects earlier collaboration with Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s office to secure federal funding.
Construction Timeline and Traffic Management
Louis indicated that following council approval, the city will proceed with finalizing design and coordination with ADOT for bid advertisement and federal authorization. Construction will begin after these steps are complete, and a detailed timeline will be provided in the near future.
During construction, the city plans to maintain traffic flow. “There will be periods where we probably have to close a lane, but we’ll give a lot of notice,” Louis explained to Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons.
The Public Works Department will coordinate closely with area industries since Thornton Road serves as their employees’ main travel route. The city will use electronic signs to inform drivers of construction dates and traffic impacts, similar to previous road construction projects in Casa Grande.
Louis acknowledged the project will definitely impact traffic in the area during construction, but the city will work to minimize disruptions.
Project Administration
Under the intergovernmental agreement, Casa Grande will handle the project design while ADOT will advertise, bid, award, and administer the actual construction. The state agency will serve as the city’s designated agent for managing federal funds.
The agreement includes provisions for cost overruns, requiring the city to pay any amounts exceeding initial estimates. ADOT must provide written notice and obtain city concurrence before incurring additional costs.
Future Expectations
The city expects to provide construction timeline details in the near future. Residents and commuters should prepare for traffic delays and lane closures once construction begins, though the city will provide advance notice of any major disruptions.
The project represents a significant infrastructure investment for Casa Grande’s growing industrial corridor, with completion expected to improve traffic flow and safety for both vehicles and cyclists along this critical transportation route.
The AI image attached to the article is extremely disconcerting.