Northern Parkway (Arizona)

Northern Parkway
Northern Avenue
Route information
Maintained by MCDOT and the cities of El Mirage, Peoria, and Glendale
Length:	4.2 mi[1] (6.8 km) 8 mi (12.87 km) as Northern Avenue[1]
Existed:	Late 2013 – present
History:	Completion expected in 2025[2]
Major junctions
West end:	Loop 303 in Waddell
East end:	Dysart Road in Glendale
Highway system
Arizona Highways Interstate U.S. State Unconstructed Former

Northern Parkway is a major parkway in Maricopa County, Arizona in the United States. Northern Parkway is an enhanced arterial street with grade-separated intersections at major cross streets (from Sarival Avenue to Litchfield Road) to eliminate the major traffic signals originally found on Northern Avenue. The roadway has twice the traffic carrying capacity of a typical arterial and enables traffic to flow at average speeds of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), as compared to typical arterials with average speeds around 25–35 mph (40–56 km/h). It is anticipated that the parkway will bring both business and residents to the current Bumstead area.

Work on the section from Loop 303 to Dysart Road began in 2012 and was finished in January 2015, when the Reems Road and Litchfield Road overpasses were opened.^[2][3][4]

Route description

Northern Parkway begins at an interchange with the Loop 303, heading to the east between Northern Avenue and a BNSF Railway line. After passing Litchfield Road, the parkway turns southeast and intersects Dysart Road. Construction on Northern Parkway has not yet begun beyond this point.^[2] Here, Northern Parkway is planned to supplant Northern Avenue, heading east. Frontage roads will be built to accompany the parkway. After crossing the Agua Fria River (using a bridge instead of the current dip setup), the parkway will intersect 111th Avenue, 107th Avenue, and 103rd Avenue at signalized intersections before crossing the New River. Past here, the route will have several traffic signals for shopping centers along with an interchange connecting to the Loop 101. The Northern Parkway will continue east from this point as a limited-access road to US 60 (Grand Avenue).^[5]

History

Plans to upgrade Northern Avenue into a limited-access road date back to 2003, with an initial price tag of $307 million. A year later, residents of Maricopa County voted for a half-cent sales tax increase to fund several transportation projects including the Northern Parkway. After construction costs increased in 2006, it was decided to use the sales tax funding for the portion of the parkway west of SR 101 with money for the remaining portion to come from elsewhere.

In 2008, Glendale, Peoria, and El Mirage decided for the road to be built, with the sales tax and federal funds paying for 70 percent of the project and the remainder coming from the three cities.^[6] Construction on the portion between SR 303 and Dysart Road began in 2012 and was originally opened Fall 2013. Construction of the overpasses at Reems and Litchfield Roads began Summer 2014 and was complete by January 2015. Construction on the portion between Dysart Road and the Agua Fria River is expected to begin in 2015. Completion of this parkway is expected by 2025.^[2]

Future

Phases 1-2

Northern Parkway is planned to extend 12.5 miles (20.1 km) and connect Glendale to communities such as Litchfield Park, and Waddell, from US Route 60 (US 60, Grand Avenue) to Loop 303.

Over $152 Million has been programmed from Arizona's Department of Transportation Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) FY2011-2014 Amendment 60 for the Northern Parkway project for phases 1 and 2. Phase 2 includes overpasses at Dysart and El Mirage Roads as well as some work at the intersection of Northern and the 101 freeway.^[5][7]

Phases 3-4

Phases of the Northern Parkway from 91st Avenue to Grand Avenue remain unfunded with no construction dates set. However, grade separation at 75th, 83rd, and 91st avenues, an improved bridge over the New River, and a direct connection to Grand Avenue are all planned.

Exit list

The entire route is in Maricopa County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Waddell	0.00	0.00	—	Loop 303	Trumpet interchange; exit 110B on Loop 303
	0.50	0.80	1	Sarival Avenue	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	1.10	1.77	2	Reems Road	Opened January 2015
	3.10	4.99	3	Litchfield Road	Opened January 2015
El Mirage–Glendale line	4.20	6.76	4	Dysart Road	Temporary eastern terminus at an at-grade intersection; planned interchange
	5.20	8.37	5	El Mirage Road	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
Peoria–Glendale line	7.70	12.39	7	Glen Harbor Boulevard / 103rd Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	8.10	13.04	Bridge over the New River
	8.20	13.20	8A	99th Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	8.50	13.68	8B	Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway)	Access via the current Northern Avenue diamond interchange; mainline Parkway will bypass Loop 101; exit 8 on Loop 101
	9.20	14.81	9	91st Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	10.20	16.42	10	83rd Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	11.20	18.02	11	75th Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
Glendale	12.20	19.63	12	US 60 (Grand Avenue) / Frier Drive	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
			–	Northern Avenue east	Planned eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Unopened

References