What will the bridge and road extension look like?
Click here to view the current bridge designs.
What kind of public outreach was included in the pre-design and design phase of this project?
In March 2022, the community was asked to vote on four design concepts. We received approximately 3,500 responses and narrowed the design concepts to two options – Palo Verde and Desert Falls. The community had a chance to vote between the final two options in June. Nearly 2,900 people responded, and the Palo Verde concept is moving forward. Public meetings were also held on Nov. 2, 2022 and Jan. 17, 2024 for the community to learn about the project and provide their feedback. Exhibits from those meetings and current design concepts are available below.
Ocotillo Road Rollplot Plan View - December 2023
Ocotillo Road Rollplot Typical Sections - December 2023
Ocotillo Road Rollplot Plan View - November 2022
Ocotillo Road Rollplot Typical Sections - November 2022
How will the project mitigate or minimize light into the residential area?
Street lighting will be provided along Ocotillo Road per the Town of Gilbert Public Works and Engineering Standards. If an adjacent resident has issues with a new streetlight that has been constructed near their residence, they can contact the Town to inquire about installing a shield to limit the amount of light that spills onto adjacent property. Aesthetic lighting for the bridge over the Chandler Heights Regional Basin (planned as a future phase of the Gilbert Regional Park) will not affect light levels in nearby communities due to its proximity to residential areas. This lighting will also be adjustable and allow the light to be dimmed at certain times of day based on the operational hours of the park.
How will the planned trails connect to other trails, or what opportunities will the new trails provide in connecting to other existing trails?
The Town is currently pursuing rights to allow pedestrians to use portions of the Roosevelt Conservation District Canal, Eastern Maricopa Floodway and Queen Creek banks as future trail amenities. The current design for this project will easily accommodate future connections to these facilities if an agreement can be reached with each agency.
How will the project mitigate or minimize noise related to traffic/park activities?
Traffic noise was studied as a part of the project and the results found no noise mitigation is necessary based on the anticipated traffic volumes. The Gilbert Regional Park operates at certain times of day, including specific timeframes for events held in the park to help mitigate noise generated from park activities.
How much traffic is expected on Ocotillo Rd on a typical day?
Based on the traffic analysis completed for the project it is estimated that 28,000 vehicles per day will use Ocotillo Road within the project limits by the year 2040.
How much traffic is expected on Ocotillo Rd when there are events at the Park?
Traffic on Ocotillo Road will be heavier on event days but only during the usual begin and end times of each event. During events like the 4th of July additional traffic control may be deployed on a case by case basis depending on the expected crowds, to mitigate additional traffic volumes at peak times.
How will traffic volumes change on Higley Rd and/or Greenfield Rd?
With the completion of Ocotillo Road, traffic along Queen Creek Road and Chandler Heights Road will be reduced for a certain period. As with all roadways, however, as time goes on the existing volumes on the adjacent roadways may increase due to normal residential and development growth.
Will there be a traffic signal at Ocotillo Rd and Freeman Farms Rd?
A traffic signal is not being added to the Ocotillo Road and Freeman Farms Road intersection. However, a pedestrian activated crossing is being added approximately 350-feet to the east of Freeman Farms Road to provide a signalized crossing for pedestrians.
