By Mark Moran | Tribune Staff
The Town of Queen Creek is in a flat-out sprint to keep up with the exploding growth and transportation officials are set to start construction on additional roads and bridges with an estimated price tag of nearly $95-million.
“Keeping up is relative,” said Dave Lipinski, director of the town’s Capital Improvement Projects Department. “We are in a busy environment. Everyone is going a million miles an hour to keep up with the growth.”
Using a combination of impact fees and construction sales tax, the town will be breaking ground on a trio of projects right away.
One involves the $13.8-million widening Ocotillo Road between Sossamon and Hawes to two lanes in each direction with a middle turn lane, a curb, gutter, sidewalk construction, drainage upgrades, bike lanes, traffic signals and street light installations, according to department staff.
“Ocotillo Road has been improved in several locations by residential developers with more improvements planned,” according to CIP staff. “Completing the whole street with five lanes in this area will accommodate development and facilitate further growth.”
