PHOENIX — The state Transportation unanimously agreed Friday to move the pavement rehabilitation project on U.S. Highway 70, from Reay Lane in Thatcher to Cottonwood Wash in Pima, from fiscal year 2029-30 to 2025-26.
The project was originally scheduled for FY 2028, but moved to FY 2030 in order to fund needed safety work on State Route 347 in the City of Maricopa and SR 260 in Heber-Overgaard.
“So all the projects moved out of the five-year plan — pavement preservation (projects) — in order to enhance some safety and expansion projects, have now also been funded through this PPAC (Priority Planning Advisory Committee) process,” said Transportation Board Chair Ted Maxwell.
Board Vice Chair Jenny Howard, who also serves as Thatcher Mayor, was unable to attend the meeting due to a scheduling conflict. However, Maxwell said Howard had reached out to the board prior to Friday’s meeting, in support of moving the project forward this year.
The 5.4 mile project includes milling the current roadway by 2.5 inches and laying down new asphalt, replacement of guardrails and terminals, fencing, reconstruction of driveways and turnouts, ADA improvements, and new pavement markings and signage.
The project will go out to bid June 5, as the current fiscal year ends June 30. Cost of the project is $20.74 million.
It’s the second phase of a two-phase project to improve U.S. Highway 70 between Safford and Pima. The first phase — between 8th Street in Safford and Reay Lane in Thatcher — is in the process of wrapping up.
