Engineering consultants taking measurements for ADOT’s construction of an overpass stand in the middle of John Wayne Parkway where it passes in front of current MFMD administration buildings. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

Maricopa Fire/Medical Department is set to leave its current location as soon as this month to clear part of a construction zone that will eventually be home to the new overpass on State Route 347.

Related story: Overpass-caused demolition, relocation becoming reality

Since the city’s incorporation in 2003, the fire department’s administration building has called the northeast corner of Garvey Road and John Wayne Parkway (SR 347) home.

Now, MFMD, along with other businesses and residents, must make way for construction slated to begin in the fall.

“We were given the have-to-be-out date of March 31, and we’re going to be pushing to meet that,” Chief Brady Leffler said. “There’s a lot of moving parts to it. It’s a pain in the rear, but (Arizona Department of Transportation) is working with us to help us get moved, and paying for the relocation costs.”

The new, temporary building will be located on Edison Road almost directly across the street from the MFMD’s Station 575. To accommodate the department’s needs, the city will be acquiring four 12-by-48-foot temporary buildings that will be combined to create one large office building.

Leffler is hoping the department’s stay will be shorter rather than long, but it will take a while to find a permanent location.

“We will be in these trailers, in my mind, a minimum of 18 months, probably closer to two years,” Leffler said.

ADOT will be compensating the city for land acquired for the overpass, though an exact figure has not been presented.

Maricopa Public Works Director Bill Fay said he is analyzing ADOT’s appraisal and, barring an unforeseen complication, is hoping to have numbers ready to present to the city council at its March 7 meeting.

Whatever the amount, Leffler said, he believes the funds gained from the sale of the property will go to “help support a permanent location for [MFMDAdministration] in the future.”


This story appears in the March issue of InMaricopa.