Northern Parkway

Northern Parkway is a limited access facility connecting Arizona Loop 303 (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway) with Luke Air Force Base and Northern Avenue in western Glendale. The roadway travels east from a trumpet interchange with Loop 303 on a four mile course to Dysart Road, where it ties into Northern Avenue. Ultimate plans call for Northern Parkway to stretch 12.5 miles across the West Valley region between Loop 303 and U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue).

The concept for a limited access corridor through the West Valley dates back to 2001, when a Glendale Citizens Advisory Committee saw the need for a facility to the west of I-17.1 The extension of the Maricopa County half-cent sales tax in November 2004 provided the necessary funding for the design and construction of the parkway.2 Construction began March 2012 on the first leg of Northern Parkway between Loop 303 and Dysart Road, which included a half diamond interchange at Sarival Avenue (Exit 1). That first phase opened to traffic December 5, 20133, with a subsequent phase building overpasses at Reems Road and Litchfield Road by 2015.

Phases 3 and 4 of Northern Parkway will extend 2.9 miles east from Dysart Road to 111th Avenue, with a new four lane facility to the south of existing Northern Avenue. In addition to the new travel lanes, a frontage road will be constructed to the south, along with new crossings over the Agua Fria (Cold Water) River. Overpasses will also be built at Dysart Road and El Mirage Road. Completion was scheduled for Fall 2020.2

Additional phases will complete Northern Parkway to U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue), with the final configuration consisting of a mix of limited and controlled access.

References:

  1. Northern Parkway Project, Pt. 2, Begins 2017, article from Arizona Builders Exchange (AZBEX), dated December 16, 2016.
  2. Northern Parkway official site - Maricopa County
  3. Northern Parkway Program - Loop 303 to US 60 (Grand Avenue) official site - Maricopa County, researched using archive.org, accessed June 7, 2020.
  4. Official Luke Air Force Base website.
    1. Photo Credits:

      • Brent Ivy: 03/02/19

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      Page Updated Saturday June 06, 2020.