Published on July 21, 2023
It's no secret roads are a widely discussed and important topic in Maricopa. The Sonoran Desert Parkway is one of the City’s Capital Improvement Projects that aims to benefit all of Maricopa. Most Maricopa residents see the value in SR-347 improvements, the new traffic signals going up, and the various ways City leaders continue to improve traffic in Maricopa. The parkway could be the next big domino to fall in Maricopa’s continuous economic growth and provide an additional route in and out of Maricopa. The roughly two-mile stretch of road that follows Farrell Road will eventually connect to Casa Grande and the I-10 interstate is taking visible shape. Crews have one lane in each direction along Porter Road currently paved with bridge construction in the process of being constructed. They’ve also made progress on pouring the curbs and gutters along Porter Road. Drainage measures along John Wayne Parkway have also been taken by crews. From there, guardrails will be installed along the parkway for safety measures. The finishing touch will be thousands of plants and hundreds of trees will be planted along the parkway to beautify the area. It’s more than just a road that aims to provide an alternate route for Maricopa’s motorists and become a company’s future front doorstep. “It’s an opportunity for economic development,” explained Deputy City Manager, Benjamin Bitter, “The Sonoran Desert Parkway could be one of Maricopa’s most important roadways soon. We envision it making commutes easier for some of our drivers, alleviating the number of large vehicles passing through town, and potentially being a hotbed of new business." Bitter added the parkway is in a prime location near two cities and major interstates. After years of discussions and designs, the wait will finally be over as the parkway is expected to be open in the fall in partnership with Pinal County and Casa Grande.