THATCHER — The Town of Thatcher is celebrating the completion of its 8th Street widening project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4.
The ribbon-cutting will take place near the intersection of 8th Street and 20th Avenue. Parking will be available at Hamblin Dermatology, 796 S. 20th Avenue.
Upgrades on 8th Street, between 20th and 1st avenues, include a widened roadway, a turning lane, new sidewalks, bike lanes, a reconstructed canal crossing and an improved railroad crossing. The project also included relocating overhead power lines underground.
New water and gas mains were installed by the City of Safford and Southwest Gas, and communication lines were relocated by Sparklight and Lumen.
“8th Street is a vital corridor for the Gila Valley,” said Thatcher Mayor Jenny Howard. “These upgrades reflect the town’s commitment to growth, safety and connectivity. We’re thankful to our partners at the state level, our dedicated town staff and the construction crews who made this project such a great success.”
The $7.3 million infrastructure project was supported by a $4.5 million state grant, with the town contributing $2.8 million.
