Busy suburban Phoenix intersection reopens after monthslong closure
Nov 22, 2016, 5:10 AM | Updated: 6:54 am
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
PHOENIX — It’s been several months, but the long-awaited time to reopen a busy intersection in a West Valley city is here.
The cross-section of Bell Road and Grand Avenue in Surprise opened back up Tuesday. The intersection on the east side of Surprise is one of Arizona’s busiest, and had been closed since April 1.
Shops and business surrounding the intersection are surely relieved, as now they will be easier to access and people will be more likely to swing by.
“It’ll be transformational,” said Surprise Mayor Sharon Wolcott. As for the businesses enduring the closure, “While they have definitely seen the most impact – and we knew that would be the case – they have been exceedingly patient.”
The Arizona Department of Transportation is excited too.
“We went with the full closure of Bell Road to accelerate the work [and] get things back open again in time for the holiday shopping season,” said ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel.
Bell Road is once again available, but this time on a new bridge that allows traffic to either go over the railroad tracks or Grand Avenue.
Construction crews are still working on completing ramps to that bridge from Grand Avenue, which Nintzel said should be done this spring.
