The town has broken ground on a project that will widen Ocotillo Road, the east-west road that runs through the heart of Queen Creek, from Hawes to Sossaman.

The project will include widening Ocotillo Road to two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane, bike lanes, sidewalks, drainage improvements, utility modifications, streetlights and traffic signal installations, according to a press release.

The project will also improve the east side of Sossaman just south of Ocotillo and the Hawes Road just north of Ocotillo. The improvements are expected to be completed in late 2024.

The area included a variety of private utilities that had to be relocated prior to the roadway construction beginning. DCS Contracting will be constructing the project.

Road projects currently under construction are:

Meridian and Queen Creek intersection

Meridian – Cherrywood to Combs

Downtown Core Connectors

Signal Butte – Appleby to Queen Creek

Road projects in design or nearing construction are:

Power – Chandler Heights to Riggs

Chandler Heights – Sossaman to Hawes

Hawes – Rittenhouse to Judd

The town is also working with the city of Mesa and Maricopa County on the design for intersection improvements at Germann and Sossaman roads. Coordination is taking place with Union Pacific Railroad due to the proximity of the train tracks.

As road improvements continue, the town is asking drivers to slow down, allow extra time for travel and to be courteous to other motorists and work crews. For weekly traffic alerts, sign up for eNotifications on the town’s website.