Completion of Hunt Highway’s First Phase Garnering Notice from Business Community
NEWS RELEASE – Pinal County
It’s been five months since construction on the first phase of Hunt Highway has been completed. Although it was only a two-mile stretch from Empire Boulevard to Thompson Road, the completion of Phase 1 has started a big interest from companies wanting to move their venture to San Tan Valley.
“Just by completing one section of this road it has opened the eyes of businesses from across the state and the country,” said Chairwoman Cheryl Chase. “It only shows you how desperately that road widening was really needed.”
Construction began on the Phase 1 widening on October 16, 2013 and was completed on August 29, 2014.
“There was a lot riding on the successful completion of this first phase,” stated Public Works Director Louis Andersen. “Many people travel that road daily. We wanted to make sure we get that section done within the proposed time and within the proposed budget. In the end, the project was done a month early and $200,000 under budget. It was a win-win for everyone.”
The county received over $5 million in federal funding to construct the expansion. Pinal County added $2.5 million that included a required five percent match for the federal funding. Since the majority of the funds came from Washington D.C., the Arizona Department of Transportation oversaw the project.
