What is the current time frame for the project?
Construction began in late 2023, and is expected to take approximately 10-12 months to complete.
The general overall schedule is:
- Individual Property Improvements: Nov. 2023 - May 2025 (Planned work on individual parcels will be coordinated with the respective property owner in advance.)
- Roadway Improvements: Aug. 2024 – June 2026
- North side of Ocotillo Road: Aug. 2024 – March 2025
- Sewer pipeline installation: March 2025 – Nov. 2025
- South side of Ocotillo Road: Nov. 2025 – June 2026
Were there public meetings held during the design phase of this project?
Yes, in 2022 and 2023 there were several public meetings held with property owners and information shared online about the project during the design phase.
Presentation to Property Owners - October 2022
ST0990 Roll Plot Exhibit June 2022
ST0990 Typical Section Exhibit June 2022
ST0990 Typical Section Exhibit with Utilities June 2022
Project Exhibits: A pre-construction public meeting was held Nov. 7, 2023, and the tentative schedule, rollplot, and typical section exhibits from that meeting are provided below.
Gilbert Town Standards for Minor Arterial Roadway
How were the rights of way required for this project acquired?
The rights-of-way needed for the project will follow Gilbert's standards for a minor arterial roadway. The project team met with property owners to discuss the needs of the project. The County led the property acquisition process for those parcels located in county islands. Affected property owners were presented with a monetary offer for the land and improvements to be acquired. Eminent domain is only used if the County, Town and property owner are unable to reach an agreement. The goal and intent of the County and Town is to come to a mutual agreement that is fair and reasonable to all parties.
What makes up the total 130 feet of Right Of Way?
The Town of Gilbert Public Works and Engineering Standards include a minor arterial roadway cross section of 130-feet of right of way. This 130-feet is broken into 65 feet on each side of the centerline of the street. The 65 feet includes 30.5 feet of landscaped area. The landscaped area includes sidewalk, drainage, and utilities i.e. cable, telephone, electric, Roosevelt Water Conservation District (RWCD), etc. Adjacent to the landscaped area is 0.5 feet of vertical curb and then a 6-foot bike lane. Next to the bike lane are two 11-foot traffic lanes, leaving 6 feet of the center striped median lane to reach the center or centerline of the roadway. This pattern is then mimicked about the centerline of the roadway.
This cross section can be found here and in the Gilbert Public Works and Engineering Standards figure 4-10, page 100.
If the sidewalk and or decomposed granite trail are removed, is it possible to lessen the amount of right of way needed?
If the sidewalk and/or the decomposed granite trail were removed from the project the requirement for 65-feet of right of way would not be reduced. Reducing the ROW for each half of the road to 55’ from 65’ would impose burdensome constraints that impact future decisions and needs. Between the irrigation facilities (RWCD), City of Chandler, Town of Gilbert and 3rd party utilities, this ROW is very crowded. There WILL NOT BE an 8’ PUE (public utility easement) on the north or south sides of the road for telecom or electric facilities. The ROW will be constrained for utilities and the proposed ROW, 65’ on each side of the centerline, is needed.
This is a specific condition that will exist in Ocotillo. RWCD already has rights to 20’ of land on the north side of Ocotillo. The Town will be acquiring that land for part of the ROW. RWCD’s ditch is not currently in that 20’. RWCD’s ditch will be relocated and placed into buried pipes inside that 20’. A 12’ wide path, 6’ decomposed granite and 6’ sidewalk, will be located in that 20’ strip above RWCD’s pipe. RWCD will allow a pathway that meanders in that space but will not allow trees or other utilities in that space.
