PEORIA, Ariz. (Dec. 2, 2009) – The winning
construction bids to build the Beardsley Connection to Loop 101 have come in
nearly $16 million less than estimated – which is great news for the city of
Peoria and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
The Beardsley Connection will provide additional
access to and from Loop 101 that will help alleviate traffic congestion at both
the Union Hills Drive and 75th Avenue interchanges.
Savings on the Peoria-funded portions of the project
will be about $10.6 million, while ADOT stands to save more than $5.1 million on
portions of the project it has funded. The total construction cost for the
project will be about $30.4 million.
“These lower construction costs mean we can transfer
some money budgeted for the Beardsley Connection to other important city
projects,” says Peoria Engineering Director Andy Granger.
Peoria is exploring other high-priority projects
where the savings could help, including widening Lake Pleasant Parkway from
WestWing Parkway to Loop 303.
Savings from the ADOT portion of the project will be
used to fund other shovel-ready projects on the state highway system within
Maricopa County, as determined by the Maricopa Association of Governments and
the State Transportation Board
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