The "Putting America to Work" signs that have cropped up around Ahwatukee Foothills to denote roadway projects funded by federal stimulus dollars could be coming down soon.
Phoenix transportation officials plan to wrap up about five miles worth of roadway repaving projects in the next couple of weeks, said Chris Turner-Noteware with the city's Street Transportation Department. All that's left is to adjust the pavement to accommodate manholes and water valves, and to reinstall vehicle sensor loops, she said.
The city received about $21 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds for roadway repaving, Turner-Noteware said. About 10 percent of the money has been spent in Ahwatukee Foothills, she said.
Over the last six weeks, city crews have been overlaying several roads with a new layer of asphalt and reconfiguring curb cuts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she said. The improvements include:
• Warner Road from 48th Street to Interstate 10.
• Chandler Boulevard between 40th and 48th streets.
• 32nd Street from Pecos Road to Chandler Boulevard.
• Ray Road from Ranch Circle to 50th Street.
• Elliot Road from 44th Street to just east of 51st Street.
The projects total about five miles of roadway, Turner-Noteware said. The locations were selected after the city conducted a pavement inventory and determined that those roads had the worst pavement conditions, she said. Nesbitt Contracting was selected for the work.
Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio, whose district includes Ahwatukee Foothills, said he has no problems with federal stimulus projects here, as long as they are justified.
"I don't think the government should be spending money just to spend money. If that's the case, I'd have a problem with that," he said.
lakewood posted at 9:04 am on Sat, Jul 24, 2010.
DiCiccio: spending is the whole point, this is why it is STIMULUS. Pumping some money into the local businesses. Some more meaningful projects would have been great, since these roads were not in bad condition - where was the city council with proposals? But: whatever it takes to keep jobs going with these companies, it is good.