Kingman Greenlights $5.1 Million Boost for Rancho Santa Fe Traffic Interchange

The City of Kingman has approved an additional funding of $5.1 million for the first phase of the Interstate 40 Rancho Santa Fe Traffic Interchange (TI) project. This decision, made during a City Council meeting on September 17, came after construction bids exceeded expectations upon their release on September 6.

The lowest bid, submitted by Pulice Construction, stood at nearly $44 million. However, after factoring in engineering, contingencies, and administrative costs, the total project outlay is expected to reach approximately $53.4 million. Previously, the City had allocated $48.3 million, necessitating the injection of further funds to address the budget shortfall.

City Manager Tim Walsh informed the Council that a thorough review of capital project expenditures led staff to propose utilizing funds from the Pavement Preservation program as a viable solution to meet the funding gap.

Council member Marion Smiley Ward acknowledged the tough decision to redirect funds from street preservation. She emphasized the urgent need for the interchange, stating, “We’ve gone too far and we’re too close to let it go. I guess the streets are the best place to take it from as bad as I hate to say that because of the neglect we’ve done over the years to the streets.”

Walsh clarified that while funds would be diverted from planned improvements for collector and arterial roads, residential street upgrades would remain unaffected. “We’ll continue with the residential districts. All residential streets will be completed by year four, both the crack and chip seal,” he explained. “What we’re doing is pushing out arterials and collectors by a year.”

In further discussions, Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli inquired whether the funding approval would facilitate the awarding of the TI construction contract at the upcoming State Transportation Board meeting on September 20. Anthony Brozich, Administrator for the Northwest District of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), confirmed that the board is awaiting the outcome of the City Council’s decision.

Brozich also provided an update on the West Kingman TI project, aimed at enhancing connectivity between Interstate 40 and US 93. He showcased early construction activities, including rock clearing and excavation, and mentioned that a project website with live camera feeds will soon be available to monitor progress.

“We do have cameras up and are working on a website that will allow you to dial up and look at the progress,” Brozich noted. “Some of the cameras will even allow you to control the view, depending on traffic.”