THATCHER — Thatcher Mayor Jenny Howard made the re-opening of 8th Street official, with a Graham County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting Monday.
Town Manager Heath Brown said the project was completed about one month early, and on budget.
“We didn’t get one change order on the project. From what the bid came in at, we were exactly on target,” Brown said.
In her speech, Howard thanks state Reps. Gail Griffin and Lupe Diaz, and state Sen. David Gowan, who helped secure $4.5 million in state funding for the $7.3 million project.
The project between 20th and 1st avenues included lane widening, addition of a center turn lane, bike lanes, an upgraded railroad crossing, curbs, sidewalks, and the placing of utilities underground.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Also speaking was Graham County Supervisor Paul David, who said the county is planning on doing similar work on 8th Street between 1st and Arena Way.
County Manager Dustin Welker said the county is currently conducting a right-of-way analysis as the first step toward apply for state funding.
“The state has what are called Smart Grants (that) are design-only grants to help you get a design in place to then go after federal dollars,” Welker said.
Brown added that the Town of Thatcher is also planning to start work soon on a similar project on the west end of 8th Street, between Arena Way and Reay Lane, that would also include a realignment of the roadway away from the new Sports Complex Park and instead go straight past Carter’s Custom Cuts.
“We’re finishing up work at the Thatcher Commercial Plaza (the old Red Lamp) and we’re probably about three months over there,” Brown said, “and then we’ll head over to . . . the west end of 8th Street.”
Brown added that once work begins, motorists in that area should be expected to be impacted for about three to four months.
