Interchange
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have approved the Change of Access Report and Design Concept Report prepared by Kimley-Horn Traffic Engineers for Phase I of the planned Traffic Interchange (TI) at I-8 and Henness Road, approximately one mile west of I-10. The TI connects the western portion of the north and south parcels, along with full interchange access to I-8. Phase I is the design phase of the TI and is the most crucial part of the ADOT/FHWA approval process. Phase II is for the completion and approval of construction and engineering plans which provides the engineering documents for the approved design. Phase II will be completed by the developer as it coincides with the construction timing.
Unrelated to the Henness Road TI, ADOT had initiated plans for a transportation infrastructure improvement for the I-8/I-10 System Interchange. ADOT’s future traffic estimates determined a need to reduce the curvature of the roadway that connects I-10 south to I-8 west to allow the transition at a higher vehicular speed. As a result, CGMR Limited Partnership, the owner, has agreed with ADOT to dedicate acreage for the redesign of the System Interchange, additional acreage for the Collector Distributor Roads, and land for the planned traffic interchange totaling 110 acres as described in the Parcel Area Table dated August 10, 2016. Land dedications will occur upon ADOT/FHWA approval of Phase II, I-8/ Henness Road TI and construction permits have been issued.
The City understands that the TI has a potential regional benefit to the City, County, and State, therefore, partial reimbursement for the traffic interchange construction and utility expansion may be negotiated with the city.
As a means to provide adequate transportation infrastructure in a timely fashion, no more than 292 residential building permits shall be issued until adequate funding and start of construction begins on the Henness Road TI. Once construction begins, an additional 200 residential permits can be processed pending completion of the TI.
Access to Peart Road from the planned Henness Road TI must be completed prior to or simultaneously when the Henness Road TI is constructed. The roadway alignment from I-8 will follow Henness Road to Hatfield Road, then west to Peart Road. In addition, the city’s 2030 Roadway Improvement Plan is to loop the alignment of Selma Highway south over the rail line, then west to loop back to the original Selma Highway alignment.
Current access to the north parcel is at the northeast corner of the property at the intersection of Jimmie Kerr Blvd (Hwy 84) and Cox Road. A limited level of traffic will be permitted at this location for employers desiring to immediately locate at the Regional Gateway Commerce Center prior to the construction of a roadway to Peart Rd, a City arterial roadway, and prior to the construction of the planned Henness Road/I-8 Interchange.
