Paving of FR 64 and FR 300

[Dschur]

Fed earmarks for roads, flood work sought
Supervisors want feds to fund $17 million worth of work
By Suzanne Jacobson

March 16, 2010

Gila County supervisors have requested $17 million worth of projects from the federal government, including a study to solve problems associated with Tonto Creek flooding and a plan to relocate part of Houston Mesa Road.

Supervisors picked three projects as top priority — a $3 million sewer expansion to service a new Job Corps site in Globe, a $2 million study for how to best protect residents of local flood-prone creeks and $4.3 million for continuing forest fuel reduction.

Then, they prioritized three road projects, lumping them together as the fourth priority. The top road request was $3 million to study and design a relocation of Houston Mesa Road. Next, they asked for $3 million to pave a portion of Young Road, and last was a request for $2 million to work toward paving Control Road.

Derided by critics as “pork,” supporters say earmarks allow communities to receive funding for projects the federal government might otherwise ignore.

This particular list will be sent to Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s office, and some of the project requests will also be sent to Sen. Jon Kyl. Sen. John McCain famously refuses to consider the requests.

Kirkpatrick will pick the projects for which she agrees to help negotiate federal funding among the myriad requests received from throughout the sprawling district.

Most of the amounts requested would help finance portions of ongoing projects.

Ultimately, the county wants to create a bypass for four miles of Houston Mesa Road that crosses the East Verde River twice, raising the road above the stream, and diverting recreation traffic.

The relocation could coordinate with plans to build the Blue Ridge pipeline, decreasing costs.

It would also reduce the water pollution coming from water lapping the dirty undersides of cars.

For Control Road, $2 million would pay for studies and designs to ultimately pave the entire road, creating an easy connection between Highways 87 and 260, and also an escape route in case of wildfire.
County officials have long worked to procure the $13.8 million necessary to pave Young Road, which officials say winter weather makes impassable. Also, they say high numbers of summer travelers make the road impossible to maintain. Officials want the road to serve as an escape route in case of fire.
This year, however, the request amounted to $3 million to pave about three miles. County officials hope for greater success by asking for the money in increments.

Supervisors hope to win money for another project to figure out how to best address the hundreds of residents who live near damaged dikes on the Tonto, Pinto and Pinal creeks.

[chumley]

Dawn, I'm not seeing anything about FR300 in here ... which I hope is NEVER paved. I actually feel similarly about the Control Road, though there are some subdivisions (Wash Park, etc.) in there that may be able to evacuate more quickly if it is paved.

I also think that its not unreasonable to pave the upper portion of the Young Road.

Houston Mesa? I try to avoid it at all costs, but it does get a little hairy at some of the crossings. It might make it safer for all the yahoos who go swimming.

[joebartels]

It's been awhile since I've been on the Control Road, I thought it was pretty hard packed?
Aside from Young and crazy settlements built in flood plains has there ever been any evacuation issues?

[chumley]

They're talking about fire evacuation ... which usually can be handled with a little bit of notice. But who am I to judge?

[PrestonSands]

I used to tear a** down the Control Road. It's a great shortcut and in good shape, generally.

a study to solve problems associated with Tonto Creek flooding

That has been studied plenty of times over the years with no results. Here's my free study: build a bridge across Tonto Creek at Punkin Center. Being stuck on the east side for weeks due to flooding sucks.

[chumley]

Sounds like a good theory, but they'd have to channel the creek or build a very long bridge. I'm guessing that both are more expensive options than is justified by the (relatively) infrequent floods.

[Dschur]

The control road gets alot washboardy in spots... And taken to fast can shot you across the road. The evacuation is like with the Water Wheel fire and such. And if there is a fire between Payson and the top of the rim it could be another route to take people out of there. And there has been rumors of FR 300 from 260 all the way across to 87 too but hadn't seen anything in print... The people at Tonto Village and the subdivisions there complain about all the dust going thru that is why they are going to pave the first mile past the Tonto Village first... Yeah it is the Young side of FR 300 right now they are talking about....

[chumley]

Dawn, you've got me confused here. FR300 is the Rim Road ... on top of the rim. FR64 is the Control Road which goes through Tonto Village and the other subdivisions. There are no subdivisions along FR300 anywhere between Hwy 87 and 260.

The first 5 miles or so of the east end of FR300 is already paved (to Woods Canyon Lake).

Am I hearing you say that there are rumors of paving FR300 (The Rim Road) from Woods Canyon Lake to Hwy 87 near Clints Well?

[Dschur]

Correct FR 300 is connecting across the rim from Woods Canyon lake to 87 and yes that is the one that is rumored to be paved but this has been a rumor for quite awhile. No there is no subdivisions there but along FR 64 there are a lot and that is the one that they are paving the first mile past Tonto Village and looks like from the article they want it paved all the way below the rim to HWY87 and the Young Rd is the other one that they look like from the articlethey are talking about paving part of it. Sorry not FR 300 there was confusing myself. That is FR 512 the Young Rd.