Road restrictions to remain until mid-March

The truck restrictions in effect on two of Maricopa’s busier streets are likely to remain in effect until mid-March, according to Benjamin Bitter, the city’s Director of the Office of Engineering & Capital Improvement Project Development.

Bitter said the project is being undertaken to widen the roadway on Smith Enke from Chase Blvd. east to White and Parker Road. That stretch of road currently is a 2-lane roadway and he said this project will improve the northern half of the road by adding two through lanes and a center median to make it match the rest of Smith Enke.

“Construction should last about 4 months. Once complete, traffic will return to normal operations, and trucks will be permitted access to the area,” Bitter said. “The truck detour route is in place due to the narrowing of the lanes that will exist while the new roadway is under construction.”

The restrictions prohibit commercial trucks on portions of both Smith Enke and White and Parker roads. The city is providing detours for commercial truck traffic, but passenger vehicles will continue to have full access during construction.

Commercial trucks will not be allowed on White and Parker Road between Honeycutt and Smith Enke roads, or on Smith Enke from White and Parker to N. Chase Drive, which provides access to the southern end of Rancho El Dorado. Trucks will be diverted to Honeycutt Road for east-west traffic and Porter Road for north-south travel.

Local truck traffic only will be allowed on Smith Enke between Chase and Porter, and on Chase north of Smith Enke.