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The City of Surprise has applied for federal stimulus funds to accelerate the final two phases of the Bell Road Reconstruction, a $5 million project.
That work will involve reconstructing the pavement of Bell Road, eastbound from Loop 303 to Parkview, and in both directions from Loop 303 to the Beardsley Canal.
If the request is accepted by the Maricopa Association of Governments, Bell Road Reconstruction could be complete within a year, or about a year ahead of schedule.
Also on the city’s list is an $8.9 million request for landscaping and lighting improvements on Bell.
“These transportation, safety and aesthetic improvements will be another step in making Bell an efficient, attractive thoroughfare,” says City Manager Randy Oliver.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an agreement with the city of Surprise to extend the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) on Bell Road from Grand Avenue to SR303.
The ITS uses cameras and interconnected computerized signals to regulate traffic flow and electronic message boards to help alert motorists to traffic news.
"The ITS is an important component to moving Bell Road traffic efficiently,” says Surprise Transportation Director Dr. Robert Maki. “By timing traffic signals to move with the flow of traffic, we are able to save commuters drive time and fuel. Federal research shows that retiming traffic patterns saves about 5,000 gallons of fuel per year, per intersection.
Other past Bell Road improvements include:
• Phase 1 of the 5-phase Bell Road Reconstruction was completed in 2007, rebuilding the street from the ground on westbound Bell, from Grand Avenue to Parkview Place, at a cost of $2.5 million.
• Phases 2 and 3 were complete in 2008. The project included reconstruction of the westbound lanes of Bell from Parkview to just east of the Loop 303, using rubberized asphalt. The eastbound lanes of Bell from Parkview to Grand were also reconstructed using standard asphalt concrete. Various traffic signal, drainage and right/left turn lane improvements
were also part of this work.
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