SR 238 Road and sign — ADOT has reopened State Route 238 west of town after a 19-hour closure due to flooding. The highway was fully closed between Maricopa and Gila Bend.

Maricopa acquires portion of SR 238 for ‘housekeeping’

Feb 26, 2023

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The Maricopa City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday to annex land adjacent to State Route 238 west of State Route 347.

Totaling approximately 12 acres, the 1-mile stretch acquired by the city begins approximately 0.2 miles west of John Wayne Parkway and ends at Green Road. The annexed strip, which is 100 feet wide and abuts the northern edge of SR 238, was under jurisdiction of Pinal County and maintained by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

This map illustrates the annexation of a 1-mile strip of State Route 238. The Maricopa City Council approved an ordinance Feb. 21 to annex the 12 acres for future improvements. Photo: City of Maricopa.

This annexation allows the city to take ownership of the “ADOT row” as previously initiated by the city last Oct. 18, after ADOT ceded control of state highways within city limits to Maricopa control.

“It’s not really a buildable area,” said City Manager Rick Horst. “It’s just part of SR 238 on former state lands which we had to annex in order to be able to take over that part.”

While small, annexation allows the city to make improvements, including widening, installation of traffic-control devices, creating access points for businesses and other improvements as Maricopa’s boundaries continue to grow.

“It’s just housekeeping,” Horst said.