Smooth sailing along ‘beautiful’ SR 347

The construction long plaguing State Route 347 with long waits and bumpy rides is over, at least for now.

That’s the news Interim City Manager Roger Kolman delivered to the Maricopa City Council and a cheering audience during this week’s regular session.

“It is a very beautiful road, and hopefully will serve the residents of this city for a very long time,” Kolman said.

It doesn’t mean, however, that the stretch of highway known in town as John Wayne Parkway is anywhere near complete in the minds of those in charge of its upkeep and expansion or those who drive it regularly to work and play.

Among the work still ahead is the completion of the rubberized asphalt addition and the construction of dual left-turn lanes for northbound SR 347 traffic heading onto Interstate 10 westbound.

In addition, those who left the comfort of their homes during the Thanksgiving weekend traversing SR 347 to celebrate with family and friends or to hit the annual Black Friday sales likely noticed a new traffic light in place at Casa Blanca Road.

The light, although not yet functional, appeared late this week with a canvas cover hiding the red, green and yellow signals that will soon regulate traffic at the intersection long fraught with dangerous automobile accidents.

Even so, it would appear that many residents believe that much more could be done.

Ezra Oei, a Rancho El Dorado resident, summed up his expectation for future road projects in a single word: expansion.

“I’m sure that’s on everybody’s agenda,” he said during a break in the city council session Tuesday. “With growth you’ve got to expand.”

One of Oei’s pet peeves about the roadway, which posts speed limits between 35 mph and 65 mph between downtown Maricopa and the Interstate 10 interchange, is that it is often the only way in and out of town. When an accident backs up traffic, there are few options. Turning around to take an alternate route through Casa Grande is nearly impossible once one is committed to the daily commute.

Turning east on Casa Blanca Road to access the freeway is not always possible, either.

Marty Hermanson, who travels to and from his home in The Villages at Rancho El Dorado said he has tried to do just that only to be turned away by tribal police whom he said would prefer not to have our traffic issues turn into their problem.

“I had to drive all the way around,” Hermanson said referring to resorting to use the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway instead to reach I-10.

“I don’t blame them,” Oei said. “You have to work with them and in the future try to work together.”