ADOT opens bridge carrying Bell Road over Grand Avenue (US 60)

SURPRISE ‒ A bridge carrying Bell Road over Grand Avenue (US 60) opened Tuesday after seven-plus months of work to create a $41.9 million traffic interchange.

Opening the bridge in time for the holiday shopping season is the first reward of an accelerated construction timeline made possible by closing Bell Road on April 1. The rest of the Arizona Department of Transportation project, including completing ramps connecting Bell Road and Grand Avenue, is on track to finish before the start of spring training baseball.

The interchange in the heart of Surprise will eliminate delays caused by trains using the BNSF Railway tracks along Grand Avenue and will keep Grand Avenue free-flowing.

 ADOT met extensively with city officials, business owners and other stakeholders to develop a project and timeline that supported businesses and the community even before the final payoff of a modern interchange.

Remaining work also includes completing lanes that will carry eastbound Grand Avenue traffic. For now, both directions of traffic are sharing what will be the westbound lanes.

Motorists connecting from Grand Avenue to Bell Road can continue using Dysart and Litchfield roads. Those using Grand Avenue also can continue accessing stores and restaurants just west of the construction area using Town Center Drive and Bell Grande Drive.

The Bell/Grand project is funded as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by county voters in 2004. Funding sources include a countywide half-cent sales tax for transportation projects and the MAG region’s share of state and federal highway funds.