Mayor Ken Watkins displays the mammoth check Kingman sent to ADOT last week. With Mayor Watkins are Manager Tim Walsh and Deputy City Manager Tina Moline. Photo by Dave Hawkins
KINGMAN – Two Kingman Interstate 40 Traffic Interchange (TI) projects almost eight miles apart are achieving milestones. The West Kingman TI is about four months ahead of the Rancho Santa Fe TI.
The Arizona Department of Transportation is preparing to mail notices to some 30,000 Kingman area households that provide information that will help the community navigate its way through a 30-month construction period that will begin in July for the West Kingman TI.
The notices provide a website link (azdot.gov/westkingmanTI) that features comprehensive project details, including maps and a video simulation illustrating the future driving experience once the important transit improvement infrastructure is completed. Some 10,000 people have already subscribed to a notification service that will provide helpful updates and alerts through the extended construction campaign.
Meantime, the City of Kingman has anted up for the Rancho Santa Fe TI. A check for nearly $48.3 million was overnighted to the Arizona Department of Transportation on June 6. The money will fund ADOT administration and construction of the project.
The City has also invoiced its project partner, Las Vegas-based KDP Manager. City Manager Tim Walsh said KDP Manager has 10 days to reimburse the City for its roughly $14-million share of project cost.
KDP principals have been in arbitration and litigation for control of the company. It remains to be seen whether KDP Manager can meet its obligation or if the City might carry the entire load, minus a $20-million state funding contribution.
Dave Hawkins