(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents a coalition of property and business owners throughout Pinal County who have worked to bring new transportation infrastructure to the region.)
By Monica D. Spencer | InMaricopa
State Route 347 may still be a contender for the Arizona Department of Transportation’s coveted five-year construction program, but obstacles remain in the way.
That was the consensus during yesterday’s State Transportation Board meeting in Bullhead City, where board members heard public pleas to widen the state highway and also reviewed a funding scenario to help move the project along.
ADOT Division Director Matt Maul suggested number crunching and shifting around other projects could make way for SR 347 to officially enter the five-year program — under a list of stipulations, that is, because of the “very limited funding” provided for infrastructure projects.
“There’s very little flexibility to move expansion projects around to accommodate State Route 347 because several of them have funding,” Maul said.
The solution? Deferring the $109 million improvements slated for State Route 260 east of Payson by two years. The improvements included widening the state highway, constructing wildlife crossovers and replacing guardrails.
