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Council approves ADOT scoping agreement for Bullhead Parkway median; officials outline funding split and next steps
Summary
Bullhead City approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation to fund scoping work for a raised center median on Bullhead Parkway between Silver Creek Road and Desert Foothills, with ADOT covering most costs and the city agreeing to a small matching scoping contribution.
The Bullhead City Council voted May 6 to authorize staff to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Transportation to perform scoping work for a center median on a roughly one-mile stretch of Bullhead Parkway between Silver Creek Road and Desert Foothills.
Assistant City Manager Travis Pruitt told the council the IGA covers scoping only; ADOT is funding the bulk of the scoping work and the larger construction phase if the project proceeds. Pruitt said staff and ADOT are taking a new approach of scoping projects first to better define environmental issues and construction costs before committing to full design and construction.
Officials described the median as a 4-to-6-foot-wide raised center island (about 6 inches above pavement) intended to reduce cross-over collisions and improve safety on the parkway. Pruitt gave a preliminary cost frame: if the project proceeds, estimated construction cost is about $5.6 million, with ADOT expected to provide the lion's share (roughly $5.3 million) and the city responsible for about $300,000. For the scoping phase, Pruitt said ADOT would cover most costs and the city's scoping contribution would be nominal (stated in the meeting as $2,000).
Public Works and the city's project manager said scoping would identify where turns and business accesses require cut-ins for right turns and help determine locations for preserved access, right-turn lanes, and lighting. Council members asked staff to ensure businesses retain needed access and asked about lighting and access for right turns; Public Works Director Angie Johnson said staff would work with ADOT to maintain access through right-turn pockets and other design accommodations.
Council voted unanimously to authorize the scoping IGA and funding arrangement. Pruitt said a separate agreement would accompany design and construction if the scoping study supports the project.
Why it matters: The parkway has recorded accidents and is a priority ADOT safety corridor; a continuous raised median with managed cut-ins would aim to prevent opposite-direction crashes while preserving business and driveway movements through later design work. The scoping work will define final costs, environmental requirements and design details before the city commits to construction funding.
