Roundabouts coming to Araby Road at I-8
Construction will be completed in 2 phases starting in summer
Construction is set to begin this summer on a project that will add roundabouts to the intersection of Interstate 8 at Araby Road, one of many projects included in a presentation made Thursday at a Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization Thursday.
Paul Petane, southwest district engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation, told the board some residents have expressed concern over its design over the years it’s been explored for the $8 million project.
San Luis City Councilwoman Maria Ramos, who represents the city on the YMPO board, asked the question many residents have had, considering the traffic load Araby, also known as Highway 195, carries during the produce season: “Will all the big rigs be able to get around those?”
Pedone said the roundabouts, or circular traffic control devices, are designed to handle large tractor-trailers, along with all vehicle sizes below them. The state has worked with transit companies during the process to ensure their vehicles can clear the roundabouts.
“We want to avoid interfering with the produce season as much as possible,” he added, so the work will be done in two phases. The roundabout on the north side of the interstate is scheduled to be built this summer and fall, and its southern counterpart is to
be added from April to November 2018.
Araby is part of the Arizona Service Highway, running south toward the border before turning into Juan Sanchez Boulevard, which connects to San Luis’ international border ports in the west.
More information and background on the Araby Road project can be found at www.azdot.gov in the Projects tab under “Southwest District.”
YMPO manages federal road construction grants funding projects in Yuma County. Other upcoming and in-progress projects Petane talked about in his annual review were:
• Another roundabout project to begin next month, on the westbound ramps of Interstate 8 at Giss Parkway. Anticipated cost is $2.5 million.
• The $9.5 million Fortuna Wash bridge, slated for completion next month.
• Pavement preservation on I-8 between Dome Valley and Wellton, to be finished in July at a cost of $7.7 million.
• Upgrading of the Mohawk rest stop off the interstate, to be finished next month at $4.6 million.
• Widening of Avenue 3E and repaving of Highway 95, a $3.2 million project set for completion in August.
• The Cesar Chavez Avenue multiuse path project in Somerton, set to start in summer and cost $605,000.
Also Friday the YMPO board:
• Approved six amendments to its Transportation Improvement Plan, affect- ing projects in Yuma County, Yuma city, Wellton and the Cesar Chavez path in Somerton.
• OK’d a new meeting schedule which holds a session every other month in a location other than Yuma City Hall, where they all have been located for the last few years. The next will be March 30, to be hosted by Yuma County at one of its facilities.
• Somerton Mayor Jose Yepez was elected secretary-treasurer for the board for 2017, with Yuma County Deputy Mayor Gary Knight moving from vice-chair to chairman and Wellton Mayor Cecilia McCullough advancing from secretary to vice-chair.