Big changes are coming to the city’s busiest intersection as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) prepares for improvements at Bell Road and Grand Avenue.
Plans call for ADOT to construct a new Bell Road bridge to travel over both Grand Avenue and the adjacent Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. The bridge will eliminate the existing intersection where Bell Road is located on the same level with Grand Avenue and the tracks, which often causes slow traffic conditions due to signal changes and passing trains. This option minimizes impact to area businesses. Construction is scheduled to begin by early 2016.
Grand Avenue also will connect to the new Bell Road bridge via on- and off-ramps traveling to and from Grand Avenue’s center median area. This was the option City Council supported and the one preferred by residents in a city-wide survey.
The Federal Highway Administration has reviewed and approved the Final Environmental Assessment for the Grand Avenue/Bell Road intersection improvement project. The approval includes a Finding of No Significant Impact, which means the federal agency has determined the planned improvements would not create any significant environmental impacts.
ADOT has posted the final and signed versions of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project online at http://azdot.gov/bellandgrand and copies are available at Surprise City Hall, PORA offices in Sun City West, and at the ADOT office in downtown Phoenix.
Questions about this and other ADOT projects can be emailed to projects@azdot.gov ADOT’s Project Hotline is 1.855.712.8530.