A baby could have been conceived and birthed in the time it took ADOT to widen the 1-mile stretch of Maricopa’s main vein into the city.
The Arizona Department of Transportation completed the $5.6 million improvement plan Monday, widening John Wayne Parkway between Smith-Enke Road and the northern city limits.
The project started last October.
“The project was designed to help relieve traffic congestion and improve travel times by widening northbound SR 347 and improving the Lakeview Drive intersection,” an ADOT release stated.
The improvements included:
- Widening northbound SR 347 with a third lane added to the center.
- Adding a second left turn lane on southbound SR 347 to eastbound Lakeview Drive.
- Installing curb and gutter on northbound SR 347 and improving drainage infrastructure.
- Installing a raised island at the northeast corner of the intersection of Lakeview Drive and SR 347 to provide a pedestrian crossing refuge area.
- Reconstructing westbound Lakeview Drive at SR 347 to add a dedicated left turn lane and a new right turn lane with an acceleration/merge lane on SR 347.
“It was a partnership between ADOT and the city of Maricopa, with each agency contributing roughly half of the construction funding,” the release said.
That segment of North John Wayne Parkway will “be turned over to the city for long-term operations and maintenance.”
