Last-minute restrictions on John Wayne Parkway are imminent.

The widening project will resume lane restrictions on Lakeview Drive tomorrow and Friday mornings, according to an email from the city to InMaricopa.

This will impact morning Rancho El Dorado commuters the most.

Thursday, Nov. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon: Lakeview Drive restricted to one westbound lane to remove two palm trees on the median.

Friday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon: Lakeview Drive restricted to one westbound lane for median improvements.

The bulk of work, however, appears to begin the week of Nov. 27, with westbound traffic on Lakeview Drive restricted to one lane to construct the median. This restriction is slated to last five weeks, with an anticipated end date in late December or early January.

In the email sent this afternoon, Deputy City Manager Benjamin Bitter said city officials “vehemently pushed back against this proposal,” but “ADOT has decided to continue with this method for construction restrictions starting tomorrow morning.”

Councilmember Eric Goettl called the last-minute restrictions “unsympathetic” and said the delays cause “tremendous frustration.”

“City staff, councilmembers and citizens have all reached out to ADOT to express our need to have construction and lane closures take place in off-peak hours,” he said. “At the end of the day, however, we are at the mercy of ADOT and their timing…because it has been difficult to get the exact details from ADOT.”

During construction, Goettl recommends:

  • Planning to leave a little earlier or during an alternative, off-peak time
  • Driving courteously, as extra traffic accidents not only jeopardize lives but will cause further backups
  • Keep up with InMaricopa and other news outlets covering the project

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