Northern Parkway (Arizona)
Encyclopedia
The Northern Parkway is a planned major highway project in Maricopa County, Arizona
in the United States that extends 12.5 miles (20.1 km). It will connect Glendale
to communities such as Litchfield Park
, and Waddell
, from US Route 60
(US 60, Grand Avenue) to Loop 303. The proposed Northern Parkway will be an enhanced arterial street with grade-separated intersections at major cross streets to eliminate the major traffic signals on Northern Parkway. The resulting roadway will have twice the traffic carrying capacity of a typical arterial and will enable traffic to flow at average speeds of 45 miles per hour (20.1 m/s), as compared to typical arterials with average speeds around 25 mile per hour. It is anticipated that the parkway will bring both business and residents to the current Bumstead
area.
line. After passing Litchfield Road, the parkway is planned to turn southeast and intersect Northern Avenue near Dysant Road. At this point, the Northern Parkway is planned to supplant Northern Avenue, heading east. After crossing the Agua Fria River, the parkway will intersect 111th Avenue, 107th Avenue, and 103rd Avenue at signalized intersections before crossing the New River. Past here, the route will have several traffic signals for shopping centers along with an interchange connecting to the Loop 101. The Northern Parkway will continue east from this point as a limited-access road to US 60
(Grand Avenue).
, Peoria
, and El Mirage
decided for the road to be built, with the sales tax and federal funds paying for 70 percent of the project and the remainder coming from the three cities. Construction on the portion between SR 303 and Dysart Road began in 2010 with construction to begin in 2011 for the portion between Dysart Road and 111th Avenue and from 111th Avenue to 91st Avenue in 2012. Completion of this road is expected in 2015 excluding the SR 101 overpass. The portion of the Northern Parkway from 91st Avenue to Grand Avenue remains unfunded with no construction date set.
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in the United States that extends 12.5 miles (20.1 km). It will connect Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
to communities such as Litchfield Park
Litchfield Park, Arizona
Litchfield Park is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In 2010 it had a population of 5,476.-History:The town of Litchfield Park is named for its founder, Paul Weeks Litchfield...
, and Waddell
Waddell, Arizona
Waddell is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, northwest of the city of Phoenix. The original Waddell area is located right off Waddell Rd. and between Citrus Rd. and 186th Avenue. It was established sometime in the 1930s when a citrus farmer named Truman began...
, from US Route 60
U.S. Route 60 in Arizona
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway within Arizona. The highway runs for from a junction with Interstate 10 near Quartzsite to the New Mexico State Line near Springerville...
(US 60, Grand Avenue) to Loop 303. The proposed Northern Parkway will be an enhanced arterial street with grade-separated intersections at major cross streets to eliminate the major traffic signals on Northern Parkway. The resulting roadway will have twice the traffic carrying capacity of a typical arterial and will enable traffic to flow at average speeds of 45 miles per hour (20.1 m/s), as compared to typical arterials with average speeds around 25 mile per hour. It is anticipated that the parkway will bring both business and residents to the current Bumstead
Bumstead, Arizona
Bumstead was located in the 1950s on a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail Road connecting Litchfield Park, Arizona with the main branch of the AT&SF at El Mirage, Arizona...
area.
Route description
The Northern Parkway is planned to begin at an interchange with the Loop 303, heading to the east between Northern Avenue and a BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
line. After passing Litchfield Road, the parkway is planned to turn southeast and intersect Northern Avenue near Dysant Road. At this point, the Northern Parkway is planned to supplant Northern Avenue, heading east. After crossing the Agua Fria River, the parkway will intersect 111th Avenue, 107th Avenue, and 103rd Avenue at signalized intersections before crossing the New River. Past here, the route will have several traffic signals for shopping centers along with an interchange connecting to the Loop 101. The Northern Parkway will continue east from this point as a limited-access road to US 60
U.S. Route 60 in Arizona
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway within Arizona. The highway runs for from a junction with Interstate 10 near Quartzsite to the New Mexico State Line near Springerville...
(Grand Avenue).
History
Plans to upgrade Northern Avenue into a limited-access road date back to 2003, with an initial price tag of $307 million. A year later, residents of Maricopa County voted for a half-cent sales tax increase to fund several transportation projects including the Northern Parkway. After construction costs increased in 2006, it was decided to use the sales tax funding for the portion of the parkway west of SR 101 with money for the remaining portion to come from elsewhere. In 2008, GlendaleGlendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
, Peoria
Peoria, Arizona
Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Located primarily in Maricopa County, it is a major suburb of Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau releases, the population of the city is 154,065. Peoria is currently the sixth largest city in Arizona for land...
, and El Mirage
El Mirage, Arizona
El Mirage is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to Census 2010, the population of the city is 31,767.-Geography:El Mirage is located at ....
decided for the road to be built, with the sales tax and federal funds paying for 70 percent of the project and the remainder coming from the three cities. Construction on the portion between SR 303 and Dysart Road began in 2010 with construction to begin in 2011 for the portion between Dysart Road and 111th Avenue and from 111th Avenue to 91st Avenue in 2012. Completion of this road is expected in 2015 excluding the SR 101 overpass. The portion of the Northern Parkway from 91st Avenue to Grand Avenue remains unfunded with no construction date set.