347 overpass endangers church, still carries support at ADOT hearing

While mostly supporting the Arizona Department of Transportation’s preferred option for an overpass on State Route 347, residents are still requesting some tweaks.

That was the result of Wednesday’s public hearing on the environmental assessment of the proposed grade separation that would carry SR 347’s heavy traffic over the Union Pacific Railroad. The recommended alternative dodges the officially historic part of Maricopa on the south side of the tracks.

The plan does, however, mow over the 60-year-old First Baptist Church.

In a packed room at the Maricopa Unified School District office, only five people directly addressed their comments to the ADOT members attending. Of the five, three expressed concern for the church.

“We want to preserve as much of the history of Maricopa as possible,” said Councilmember Nancy Smith. “The First Baptist Church is part of that history.”

She suggested an alternative alignment.

The church’s pastor, Jim Johnson, too made a plea for his church, which just underwent a remodel. He said church attendance has grown with the city’s population, and the building is also used for other community functions.

“But the First Baptist Church does not want to hold up progress for the city,” he said.

Mayor Christian Price, too, pointed to that as an area that should be tweaked. He also expressed enthusiasm for the advancement of the overpass project. He said it had been needed for 10 years.

“We cannot have an hourglass with a pinch-point known as 347,” Price said. “This is beyond a want but rather a necessity.”

ADOT consultant Elijah Williams said ADOT guidelines seek a straight entry into an intersection. Avoiding the church would put the alignment on a curve. That particular “tweak” would also require other connected changes.

“It’s not just engineering; it’s two dozen things at the same time,” he said.

Wednesday, besides directly addressing the ADOT board, attendees could have their comments taken down by a court reporter. They were also given the information for sending in comments via email or postal service.

Businessman Dominic Palmieri was concerned that while ADOT studied four specific impacts – human, cultural, physical and natural – “there was no economic assessment.” He said businesses in the building he manages south of Hathaway Avenue would be hampered by lack of access for northbound traffic.

The hearing was a presentation and not for questions and answers. However, attendees had plenty of questions to ask in the neighboring room, where boards from the PowerPoint were displayed and study team members were stationed.

There was also a video animation of roughly how traffic would flow on the preferred alternative. That includes a southbound off-right exit to turn left onto eastbound Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.