Breinhold Contracting clears away demolished homes in the path of the overpass. Photo by Mason Callejas

The Union Pacific Railroad overpass has a budget, properties have been purchased and a path is being cleared. Now, the project needs a general contractor.

Arizona Department of Transportation sent the project out to bid in June. The State Transportation Board expects to open the bids on Aug. 25.

The bridge is budgeted for $37.3 million and will carry traffic on State Route 347 across the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The entire project, including property acquisition, street realignments and building demolitions, was estimated to cost $55 million.

Receiving $15 million from a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, $14 million from the City of Maricopa and another $1 million from Union Pacific Railroad, Global Water Resources and Maricopa Domestic Water Improvement District combined, ADOT was able to decrease its own budget for the overpass construction. The state will now pay $6.9 million, returning $4.8 million to its Statewide Contingency Fund.

Breinholt Contracting Company razed three residences in July on a $28,000 contract.

Also, in a continuing effort to eradicate possible blight in the same area of the Heritage District, the city razed three other buildings after agreements were struck with the owners.

This story appears in the August issue of InMaricopa.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR