Northern Parkway (Arizona)

Northern Parkway
Northern Avenue
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap Northern Parkway highlighted in red, proposed corridor in blue
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
	Loop 101 in Peoria
East end	US 60 in Glendale

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 planned at major cross streets (from Sarival Avenue to El Mirage 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 (40–55 km/h).^{[citation needed]}

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] Work on the section from Dysart Road to 111th Avenue is expected to begin in early 2018.^{[5][needs update]}

Route description[]

Northern Parkway begins at an interchange with 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] West of Dysart Road, 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 with a new, six-lane bridge, the parkway will intersect 111th Avenue, 107th Avenue, and 103rd Avenue before crossing the New River.^[5] 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).^[6]

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 to extend the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation. As part of the initiative, a number of major arterial road improvements were funded including Northern Parkway.^[5] Funding is allocated through the regional Arterial Life Cycle Program, managed by the Maricopa Association of Governments.^[7]

The City of Glendale, in conjunction with Maricopa County, the City of Peoria, and City of El Mirage, approved a Design Concept Report for the project in 2008. Roughly 70 percent of the projects funding will come from federal funds allocated by the Maricopa Association of Governments while the remainder coming from the four local agencies.^[8] Construction on the portion between SR 303 and Dysart Road began in 2012 and opened in December 2014.^[7] 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 111th Avenue is expected to begin in 2018.^[5] Construction of Northern Parkway from Dysart Road to El Mirage Road started in June 2021. Completion of this parkway is expected by 2025.^[9]

Future[]

Phases 1-2[]

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

Over $168 Million has been programmed through the Maricopa Association of Government's Transportation Improvement Program Northern Parkway project for phases 1 and 2.^[10] Phase 2 includes construction of the Parkway from Dysart Avenue to 111th Avenue, overpasses at Dysart and El Mirage Roads, and improvements at Northern Avenue and Loop 101 (the Agua Fria Freeway).^[6][11]

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 (Estrella Freeway)	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		Dysart Road	Temporary eastern terminus at an at-grade intersection; planned interchange under construction
	5.20	8.37		El Mirage Road	At-grade intersection; planned interchange under construction
Agua Fria River	5.60	9.01	Bridge
Peoria–Glendale line	7.70	12.39		Glen Harbor Boulevard / 103rd Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	8.20	13.20		99th Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	8.50	13.68		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		91st Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	10.20	16.42		83rd Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
	11.20	18.02		75th Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
Glendale	12.20	19.63		US 60 (Grand Avenue) / 67th Avenue	At-grade intersection; planned interchange
				Northern Avenue east	Continuation beyond planned eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Unopened

References[]

External links[]

Route map: