THATCHER — In about two weeks, the Gila Valley will know if there will be more improvements to U.S. Highway 70 this year.
The state Transportation Board meets May 15 to hold a public hearing on the tentative five-year capital improvement plan, and improving Highway 70 from Reay Lane in Thatcher to Cottonwood Wash in Pima might get priority treatment.
“(It was) originally budgeted for 2028, we pushed it out to 2030 to fund the 347 widening. We gave up three projects, that was the third one,” said Thatcher Mayor Jenny Howard, who represents Graham County on the Transportation Board. “The other two have been funded — they’re up north — and this was the third one to bring that back.”
If approved by the board, ADOT will move the project into the current fiscal year and begin the bidding process to select a contractor for the work.
The work will be the same as the current project improving Highway 70 from 8th Street in Safford to Reay Lane, which includes resurfacing and striping, improving sidewalks and ramps (where applicable) to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other drainage improvements.
