This project has undergone significant changes as a result of the weak economy since it was originally developed in 2005. This update is intended to provide the background and current status of the Kinney Road project.
Original Proposed Improvement
Initially, the Ajo/Kinney Design-Build Improvement Project was a public-private partnership involving three projects and estimated to cost $25.4 million.
• Pima County Department of Transportation planned to widen of Kinney Road from just south of Ajo Way to just north of Sarasota Boulevard; realign Bopp Road to intersect Kinney Road at Sarasota Boulevard; and improve Ajo Way/Kinney Road intersection. Improvements to Kinney Road included a fourlane, divided roadway from Ajo Way to Sarasota Boulevard; a new traffic signal at Kinney Road and Sarasota Boulevard; and medians, turn-lanes, curbs, landscaping, and sidewalks. Improvements to Ajo Way primarily focused on the improving access and widening at the Ajo Way/Kinney Road intersection. The County’s share of the project’s cost was estimated to be $17.4 million. Funding was made up of $3.8 million of1997 HURF Bonds and $13.6 million in Impact Fees.
• Arizona Department of Transportation planned to widen Ajo Way from Sheridan Avenue to approximately 1,500 feet east of Kinney Road. ADOT’s share of the project’s cost was $1.8 million.
• Donahue-Schriber planned to build the Mountain Vista Shopping Center on the northwest corner of Ajo Way and Kinney Road, as described in its development agreement with Pima County implemented in 2006. The new center was to provide approximately 175,000 square feet of retail and commercial space including a Wal-Mart store. The developer was also to provide $6.2 million in supplemental funds to widen Kinney Road and Ajo Way and contract for design and construction of the roadway.
Project Activities between 2006 and 2008
The design-build team made significant progress since the initial start in 2006 until 2008. Roadway design was developed to 30 percent; Pima County’s Environmental Assessment and Mitigation Report was approved by the Board of Supervisors after consideration of extensive community input; and, the South Forty Shopping Center at the corner of Kinney Road and Bopp Road was purchased and removed by Pima County to realign the intersection and widen Kinney Road. However, as the economy began to decline, the developer and Wal-Mart postponed their plans for building the center until the economy improved and residential development in that area resumed.
Current Status
After the shopping center developers withdrew their plans from the project, Arizona Department of Transportation decided to incorporate the Ajo-Kinney intersection improvements as part of its project to widen Ajo Way (State Route 86) from Kinney Road to Sandario Road. This project is in the early design stages, and its progress can be reviewed on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s website at:
With two of the three partners departing from the project, Pima County’s bond fund allocation is insufficient to widen Kinney Road as originally planned and designed. Staff is currently assessing possible scope changes and exploring alternative project designs that remain within budget.
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