US 60 Gonzales Pass project earns prestigious environmental award

Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Transportation

Scenic ADOT highway balances safety and environmental concerns

PHOENIX-Nationally recognized as one of the top 10 roads in America by Roads and Bridges Magazine in 2009, the US 60 Gonzales Pass widening project was named the top winner in Valley Forward's 31st Annual Environmental Excellence Awards program on September 17.

The US 60 Gonzales Pass project set a new bar for environmental stewardship, according to Valley Forward, a environmental advocacy group, which presented the “President’s Award” to this Arizona Department of Transportation project.

The 10-mile scenic stretch of highway, also known as the Pinal-Gila Scenic Road, is the Valley’s eastern gateway to the growing communities of Superior, Globe and Miami, and the Tonto National Forest, which plays host to 5.8 million visitors each year.

The $40 million project opened to traffic in October 2008, eight months ahead of schedule. The project between Florence Junction and Superior improved the safety and capacity of the narrow, two-lane roadway by widening it to a four-lane divided highway.

More than 130 entries were received in Arizona’s oldest and most prestigious awards competition focusing exclusively on environmental initiatives.

The project was lauded for reducing environmental impacts, conserving and protecting natural resources and integrating engineering and aesthetic considerations into each phase of the development process.

Separating east- and west-bound lanes provided a natural, open median and lessened environmental and visual impacts. A native plant inventory and cactus salvage replanting plans were completed for more than 35,000 saguaro, ocotillo, barrel and other small cacti. Approximately 150,000 cubic yards of unanticipated earthen materials from failed slopes were reintegrated into the project’s natural “lay of the land,” reflecting adjacent landforms.

In addition to the President's Award, the US Gonzales Pass won a first-place award in the "Site Development and Landscape (Public Sector)" category.

Visit adotblog.blogspot.com to learn more about the US 60 Gonzales Pass project.