By Mark Cowling
FLORENCE — Pinal County will apply for a $25 million federal grant to continue the construction of State Route 24 eastward, plus begin building the future Central Arizona Parkway to the south.
The plan is to extend State Route 24 in northern Pinal from Ironwood Road, just over 2 miles to the west side of the Central Arizona Project canal. From that point, construction would begin on the first 4 miles of the future Central Arizona Parkway south to Ocotillo Road. The new road would include connections from Germann and Ocotillo roads.
If the county’s application for the U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant is successful, it will only cover a fraction of the cost, Joe Ortiz, Pinal Public Works deputy director, told the Board of Supervisors. Pinal will also seek state funds, the county’s transportation excise tax and perhaps bond funding.
