Highway Projects to Proceed on Stimulus Money
The Arizona State Transportation Board announced recently that 41 "shovel ready" projects previously shelved because of a lack of funds, may proceed with federal stimulus money. Five of the projects are in Maricopa County, four of which will benefit the west Valley and one of which will benefit the north Valley.
The Board chose two projects on the Maricopa Association of Governments' list of priority projects: the widening of the I-10 freeway in the west Valley between Sarival Avenue and Verrado Way, and the addition of one lane in each direction on Interstate 17 between the Carefree Highway and Anthem Way. Although it is unclear whether stimulus grant money can be used to pay for these projects, but ADOT plans to try to use grant money for the projects and is awaiting the rules governing stimulus money. Two other projects are in the area of the US 60 and Grand Avenue and one is the construction of an interchange for Loop 101 at Beardsley Road and Union Hills Drive.
Apparently much of the federal stimulus money designated for transportation projects will be used by the State of Arizona for projects that were funded by the legislature and under way, but that had funding pulled because of budget constraints.
