What do residents think of the new Bell/Grand bridge? See our video

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications

As the traditional holiday shopping season kicked off before Thanksgiving, ADOT unwrapped a gift for drivers and businesses in the northwest Valley: a bridge carrying Bell Road over Grand Avenue (US 60) in Surprise.

Reopening Bell Road, which closed April 1 to allow faster completion of a modern traffic interchange, is the first benefit of a project designed to reduce traffic congestion where two major roadways and the BNSF Railway tracks come together.

Where Bell Road drivers once had to endure waits for trains to pass, they now pass over the tracks. Where drivers on Bell Road and Grand Avenue once lost time to red lights, traffic flows freely.

We've shared a lot about the benefits of this $41.9 million project. But what do area residents think about this early holiday present? The video above shares those perspectives.

Crews are now reconstructing the future eastbound lanes of Grand Avenue near the bridge. They also will complete the new ramps to connect Grand Avenue to and from the Bell Road bridge in time for the start of the Cactus League season in late February.

See more ADOT videos at youtube.com/ArizonaDOT.