Yesterday afternoon, just in time for the Helazapoppin’ Pro Rodeo this weekend, District 4 County Supervisor Clint Hickman, Councilmember Michelle Hess and Mayor Jackie Meck of Buckeye were onsite to welcome traffic over the newly constructed Miller Road Bridge.
Buckeye, AZ — Following nearly four months of bridge construction and the closure of Miller Road near downtown Buckeye, the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) contractor opened the new bridge nearly one week ahead of schedule shortly before rush hour yesterday afternoon.
“We know this is welcome news to the small business operations located near the construction activity most impacted by the road closure and temporary construction detour routes,” said Clint Hickman, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. “We really appreciate the role they played in this important community project. The entire Buckeye community will now stand to benefit from this new bridge. It will meet Buckeye’s growth and business development needs well into the city’s future.”
MCDOT, in partnership with the City of Buckeye and the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD), rehabilitated the deteriorating Miller Road Bridge crossing of the BWCDD Canal located just north of Narramore Avenue. The $1.1 million project included replacement of the Miller Road Bridge deck, construction of new roadway approaches on Miller Road and installation of new concrete canal lining. The new bridge is designed to accommodate installation of additional travel lanes when future roadway widening is warranted, according to MCDOT officials.
Adjacent Businesses Receive “Extra Mile Award”
Several small businesses adjacent to the Miller Road Bridge construction project were selected to receive the MCDOT “Extra Mile Award” in recognition of their role in the community public safety project, said Hickman.
“We have a lot more growth and development ahead of us. Along with this growth comes new roadway improvements and construction,” said Mayor Jackie Meck of Buckeye. “Because our businesses provide the foundation of our local economy, it’s imperative that we continue to support and patronize these impacted businesses through roadway construction projects such as the new Miller Road Bridge.”
–MCDOT–
Download MCDOT News Release (PDF 441 kb)
The Maricopa County Department of Transportation plans, designs, constructs, and maintains roadways within the County’s unincorporated areas. MCDOT currently operates and maintains approximately 2500 miles of roadway, 16 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) SMART Corridors; more than 80 bridges (16 of them more than 400 feet long) 325 culverts, 160 signalized intersections; and nearly 35,000 traffic signs. MCDOT’s funding is primarily derived from Highway User Revenue Funds, and other federal and state sources. Maricopa County has a population of approximately four million, and is the fourth most populous county in the US. With more than nine-thousand square miles it is larger than seven different states.
