Work starts on El Mirage Road widening

Road work began Monday northeast of Sun City West on a project that will extend El Mirage Road from Deer Valley Road to Loop 303.

Property owners and motorists in the area should expect the work to continue into the spring of 2009, Maricopa County Department of Transportation officials said Monday.

Contractors will build a six-lane roadway extension of El Mirage Road from Deer Valley Drive to Williams Road and widen the existing El Mirage Road between Williams and Loop 303.

MCDOT officials said workers will construct an interim two-lane roadway connecting the new El Mirage Road to the existing Deer Valley Drive.

Other improvements include installation of bike lanes, contructing curbs and gutters, adding lighting at intersections and putting in place underground infrastructure for future traffic signals at Deer Valley Drive, Williams Road, Corte Bella Boulevard and Loop 303.

"Anyone that looks at that road knows that the construction is needed and we have to get people off of Bell Road onto the Loop 303," said Scott Isham, chief of staff for District 4 Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson.

Temporary road closures or lane restrictions can be anticipated, MCDOT officials said, but access will be maintained at all times for area residents and emergency vehicles.

Daily construction work may begin as early as daybreak and work may continue until dusk.

MCDOT's 24-hour construction hot line at 480-350-9288.