PEORIA, Ariz. (April 7, 2010) – The Arizona
Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) has named Peoria’s Happy
Valley Road project its Public Works Project of the Year.
The city doubled the capacity of Happy Valley Road, a critical east-west link in
northern Peoria, by widening it from a half street to a full six-lane road on
the same construction schedule. The project constructed the missing segment of
Happy Valley Road between 91st Avenue and Terramar Boulevard, including a bridge
over New River.
“Safety measures, being environmentally conscious, and doing it all on time and
under budget - that’s what makes a great public works project,” said Peoria
Engineering Director Andy Granger.
The project was originally budgeted at $54 million, but aggressive scheduling of
various design and construction contracts shaved more than a year off the
construction schedule and saved the city nearly $12 million.
The city also worked with Arizona Public Service (APS) to replant 200 native
trees and cacti displaced from a nearby electrical substation project and took
all of the viable vegetation uprooted from the road construction to use in the
landscaping. Protection of the environment was one of the award criteria for the
$25 million- to -$75 million transportation award category.
The award luncheon will take place at the APWA Arizona Chapter 2010 Statewide
Conference in early August at the Phoenix Convention Center. The project has
been sent to APWA National to compete for the National Public Works Project of
the Year.
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