The Arizona Dept. of Transportation is preparing to call for construction proposals on one of its largest and most complicated projects, the Cordes Lakes Interchange.
Bill Pederson, public information officer, said ADOT will use the "Construction Manager at Risk" process for the $51 million project. In the CMAR process, ADOT selects a qualified contractor before finishing the plans, and the contractor participates in the design of the project. The contractor then agrees to build the project for a guaranteed maximum price.
"Because the contractor has input, he has a much more intimate knowledge of the project," Pederson said. "He takes all the risk of any potential cost overruns. We did this with the recent widening of State Route 89 in Chino Valley and it worked out very well."
Pederson said ADOT hopes to get underway with construction in mid-2010.
The increase in traffic on Interstate 17 and State Route 69 has made reconstruction of the interchange necessary.
"That interchange was built almost 50 years ago when traffic volume was less and we didn't have the development in Cordes," Pederson said. "It's outdated, and it just doesn't work today. It needs to be completely reconstructed."
More than 10,000 vehicles daily use the current interchange, according to information on the ADOT website, which predicts that traffic will more than double by 2020. Pederson said the reconstruction will ease conflicts between traffic entering and exiting I-17 and SR69.
"The new configuration will be much safer and more functional," he said.
Local business owner Jerry Schultz said he thinks the new interchange also will help the community.
"For the Cordes Lakes area, this is great news for everyone, with many commercial projects to follow and job creation here at the Junction. I've been a strong proponent of this for a long time, I think it's good for the community," he said.
Plans for the new interchange include two roundabouts, which have proven successful in other areas of the county, Pederson said.
"The roundabout at Willow Lake Road and SR89 in Granite Dells has greatly decreased accidents there," he said.
Additionally, the new interchange will separate local business and residential Cordes Lakes traffic and through traffic toward Prescott. The design also will replace the existing bridges that take traffic over I-17.
Pederson said the project is large and complex.
"(The interchange) will look very different when we're through," he said.
The current status of the project comes after a series of public meetings and discussion with Cordes Lakes business owners and residents three years ago. Pederson said ADOT will continue to communicate with affected businesses and property owners through the course of construction.
Schultz said he and other area business owners are concerned about that communication, and that the contractor softens the impact of construction as much as possible.
"We're all concerned. I understand with the CMAR process, they are more involved with the community. They will put up necessary signs, and work with businesses in the area. Whether that happens or not, we'll have to wait and see. We know there will be some disruption. (ADOT) has been pretty reassuring."
County Supervisor Tom Thurman said, "I have been waiting, as everyone else has, for pushing 20 years to get that interchange fixed. I'm happy to see ADOT do that, and I hope it goes out to bid as they promised it would."
