KINGMAN – The proposed Kingman Crossing interchange is still a long way off, but the Rattlesnake Wash interchange on I-40 is already in the pipeline and big chunk of the $35.8 million needed to build it is on its way, local government representatives said in a meeting at the Mohave County Public Library in Kingman on Tuesday.
The Arizona Department of Transportation will share the cost of the interchange and new roadways with the City of Kingman with ADOT picking up 70 percent ($25 million) of the tab.
When completed the new road, called Mohave Drive at the moment, will run from Hualapai Mountain Road to the interchange with I-40 and then north to the airport and eventually to connect with Grace Neal Boulevard. The plan calls for a four-lane parkway that will run from Hualapai Mountain Road to Stockton Hill Road near Mohave Community College.
Construction on the first phase is expected to start in mid-2012 and be completed within two years. The second phase will connect Louise Avenue to Hualapai Mountain Road and is expected to be completed in 2015 at a cost of $7.2 million.
The project will provide direct all-weather access to the Kingman Airport & Industrial Park for truck traffic.
“Our original access to the airport is a drainage structure, Bob Riley, Director Economic Development at the Kingman Airport & Industrial Park, said. “OSHA decided it probably is not a good idea not to have all-weather access where so many people work.”
The new interchange will also bring new commercial space. On the south side of I-40 on the west side of Mohave Drive there are 27 acres set aside for commercial space. On the east there are 28 acres that are set aside for a mall. There are an additional six acres set aside on the east side for other commercial development.
There is also additional commercial property planned on the north side of I-40 at the interchange, but no details were available.
The land that the roadway will go through is either already in the city limits or is in the process of being annexed by the city, Kingman Public Works Director Rob Owen said.
Kingman’s share of the cost is approximately $10 million and must be held in trust before construction can begin. Kingman Councilwoman Robin Gordon said the city has not yet determined how it will fund its share of the project.
The project is important because the industrial park at the airport is expected to grow significantly.
The first phase of the industrial park is 1,100 acres and there are about 100 acres left for sale, Riley said. The second phase will be 1,200 more acres.
“We expect heavier industry in the next phase,” Riley said. “We’re planning on adding railroad spurs because the heavier industry will need them.”
Because of the informal town hall style of the meeting Kingman Crossing was also brought up. There are no construction plans in place at this time for Kingman Crossing and no funding plan, Owen said.
The bridge at the Hoover Dam bypass was also brought up. Construction is now expected to be finished in late 2010 and Highway 93 leading up to the bridge is expected to be widened to four lanes by the time the bridge opens.
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