Board declares James Ranch Road a county highway to support new commercial port of entry; ADOT to design and build

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 16 adopted Resolution 25‑28 declaring James Ranch Road a county highway, a step officials said is necessary to acquire right of way and allow the county to assume maintenance after construction of a new road serving the planned commercial port of entry.

County staff presented the project alignment from Highway 80 south to the international border and said the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) completed NEPA environmental clearance in April, enabling right-of-way acquisition. The board was told ADOT is designing the project and will manage construction.

Technical and cost details: staff said the road alignment will include multiple box culverts to cross washes (the presentation referenced three wash crossings with a total of about 27 box culverts or bridge structures). The road will be raised about 6 to 7 feet where culverts are installed; culverts are described as roughly 10 feet wide by 5 feet tall and designed for a 25‑year flow to pass under the road, while a 100‑year flow is expected to pass under without overtopping the roadway, with overflow backing onto adjacent property. Commissioners asked about sediment buildup; staff said design includes "self-cleaning velocity" but acknowledged periodic cleanout could be required.

Budget and schedule: during discussion a supervisor cited a current estimate near $48,000,000 for a four‑lane roadway with turn lanes and a raised median; staff said $27,000,000 is in the budget and the county is seeking roughly $20,000,000 more in grant funds. ADOT's NEPA clearance was referenced as the environmental authority enabling right-of-way acquisition.

Board action: the motion to adopt Resolution 25‑28 passed unanimously, 3‑0. Staff said after construction the road will become county‑maintained and that staff will proceed with right‑of‑way acquisition and drainage easement negotiations with affected parcel owners.

Why it matters: establishing James Ranch Road as a county highway is a foundational step for the planned commercial port of entry and shifts long‑term maintenance responsibility to Cochise County after construction. The estimate of tens of millions in construction costs and the need for additional grant funding highlight budgetary and implementation dependencies.

Ending: Following the vote supervisors and staff discussed next steps for right-of-way purchases and ongoing coordination with ADOT; public comment was not recorded on the item at the hearing.