City presents conceptual plan for two significant road projects

Buckeye City staff met with residents Wednesday night to look over plans for proposed changes to Jackrabbit Trail and Indian School Road. [David Kennard]

By David Kennard

The City of Buckeye unveiled a preliminary look Wednesday at two significant road projects expected to begin in coming weeks.

The projects include an overhaul of about a 1-mile stretch of Indian School Road from Jackrabbit Trail to Perryville Road and a similar treatment of Jackrabbit Trail from Thomas Road to Indian School Road.

Both are north of Interstate 10 and provide access to new housing developments in the area.

The projects, included in Buckeye’s Capital Improvement Program will widen the roads so they can handle expected increase in traffic and “improve safety for access to homes and businesses,” said Allyson Camillucci, city project manager.

Camillucci also said the two new projects will be coordinated with three other road projects already underway in the area.

The Indian School Road project stretches from Jackrabbit Trail to Perryville Road and will widen the road to three lanes in each direction with a median in the center. Pedestrian walkways on either side are also part of the current design plan.

Jackrabbit Trail Improvement Project Area

This project includes similar improvements from Thomas Road to Indian School Road.

Both projects have been through a design phase and will proceed to the construction phase later this year, depending on required right-of-way acquisitions and relocation of public utilities, according to Camillucci.

Residents were encouraged Wednesday to join mailing lists as well as call or email key project leaders.

“We are trying to build a community that you are able to contact,” Camillucci said.

Camillucci also said residents will see updates on the city’s website that provide detail on the various projects as they progress.

Questions from residents in attendance at Wednesday’s community meeting included concerns about sound from increased traffic and security from increased pedestrian traffic along adjacent properties.

John Willett, city traffic engineer, said sound barriers would be erected or extended higher to keep traffic sound within acceptable standards.

“We want to hear from you so we can try to address it,” Willett said.

He encouraged residents to mark their concerns on the provided maps of the project areas.

“If our construction affects anything on your property, there is conversation and compensation regarding that,” Camillucci said.

Outside of the city’s project, Arizona Department of Transportation is working on the Interstate 10 interchange at Jackrabbit Trail (Exit 121); that project will be coordinated with the city’s projects as well as with the planned widening of the Interstate, which is still in a planning stage contingent on funding from the state legislature.