Paving starts on MCG Hwy. expansion (VIDEO)

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Aerial photo of widening project on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway by Kyle Norby (flight courtesy Desert Rat Aviation)

A road-widening project that started Jan. 6 has an end in sight.

A stretch of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway between Porter Road and White and Parker Road is being expanded to four lanes. The construction comprises  the City of Maricopa’s 2016 agreement with Arizona Department of Transportation.

According to the city’s Public  Services Department, paving started this week and will continue through May 9. The lanes will then be striped May 11-13 ahead of opening.

The primary purpose of the project is to “increase traffic capacity” on the 1.7-mile stretch. New left-turn lanes at both ends of the expansion are also part of the project. ADOT is in charge of the project.

The project cost about $3.6 million, mostly from Federal Highway Administration funding. Matching funds of 5.7% from the City of Maricopa came from the half-cent County Road Tax Fund.

In September, Nesbitt Contracting beat out three others for the bid, which was 7% over the state’s estimate.

The widening of MCGH includes a new traffic-control system at White and Parker Road. According to the City, that is scheduled for completion May 7.

As the MCGH project draws to a close, the City is gearing up a project to install a traffic signal on White and Parker Road at Honeycutt Road. That is expected to begin in two weeks and be completed by the end of the fiscal year, June 30.

Any closure of the intersection requires most traffic in East Maricopa to use Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway to reach the west side of town.

The intersection has been surveyed and pole area marks completed. City staff is requesting an update from the contractor.