The Gilbert Road Bridge near Mesa will reopen 2 lanes. Here's when

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 1 minute read

Two lanes along the East Valley Gilbert Road Bridge will reopen next week, ending a year-long closure.

The Maricopa County Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that the reopening would provide one lane in each direction while construction on the second half of the bridge continues.

The bridge is located between Loop 202 and State Route 87 along Gilbert Road. State Route 87 passes through Fountain Hills to Payson.

Replacing the current bridge will help avoid flooding closures, according to the county Department of Transportation. It was originally built in 1990, using beams salvaged from an old Salt River Bridge on Rural Road in Tempe.

About 13,000 cars use the bridge daily, according to 2019 data from the Maricopa County Department of Transportation.

When completed, the project will include two lanes for each direction, a new signal at the Thomas Road intersection and new roads connecting the bridge to SR 87 and Mesa. It also includes a new storm drain and 36-inch waterline as part of the Salt River Project water system.

The county expects construction to finish in late 2024, earlier than expected.

In 2023, “historic floods” damaged the roadway, which was supposed to remain open to traffic. This forced a year-long detour. Rather than repair the damaged road, the county sped up construction of the bridge.

The $48.6 million project is funded by:

Maricopa Associations Government Regional Highway Funds.
Mesa.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Salt River Project.
Maricopa County Department of Transportation Highway User Revenue Fund.

The partial reopening will take place after 4 p.m. on Friday June 28.

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at [email protected] or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

Lina Portman

Related Articles

Teenager found murdered on graduation day

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office searches for missing woman – Dailyfly

More family members arrested in investigation into missing baby in Ohio Co. – Winchester Sun

Woman suspected of stabbing parents arrested near Sedona