| When
the transportation department initially decided to improve the interchange,
it proposed a roundabout on both sides of the overpass, but that
idea was soundly rejected by North Valley residents. At that time,
according to ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel, there was less money available
for improvement of the interchange.
“The
partial cloverleaf was the selected alternative following community
input which included public meetings held to gather opinions,”
Nintzel said, adding that the design is in its final stage of
production.
Although
at this point there is no formal process for public comment on
whether they approve of a partial versus full cloverleaf design,
ADOT always welcomes community input, Nintzel said.
Desert
Foothills resident Terry Marron, who took part in ADOT’s community
input process, said federal
highway experts prefer a partial cloverleaf interchange to a full
cloverleaf because of overall safety considerations.
Marron
said he is not entirely satisfied with the way transportation
officials came to a decision on the design.
“They
(ADOT) worked with residents and asked for their input, but my
impression was it was a done deal,” he said.
Marron
is among those who are not certain a partial cloverleaf will be
able to handle increases in traffic volume over the next two to
three decades as forecasted by ADOT.
“If
SR (State Route) 303 gets built (to the south crossing I‑17),
it should work–providing 303 is done in a timely manner–because
that will relieve the demand from Carefree Highway,” he said.
“Without SR 303, the interchange might be good for 15 to 20 years.”
Dean
Howard, chairman of the City of Phoenix North Gateway Village
Planning Committee, said, “Speaking for the committee, we are
happier with the partial cloverleaf design than the (previously
proposed) roundabout design.”
Last
February, as a stopgap measure to alleviate frequent traffic backups,
ADOT installed traffic lights on both sides of the interchange.
Nintzel said the department has received positive feedback from
residents with regard to that improvement.
Reach
the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.
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