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Committee backs $6 million to extend Wilford Road near Show Low, citing evacuation and emergency-response benefits
Summary
The committee gave House Bill 2220 a due-pass recommendation to appropriate $6 million to ADOT for the East Wilford Road extension in Show Low; city officials said the shovel‑ready project has local matching funds and would ease congestion and improve emergency access.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on March 21 voted to advance House Bill 22 20, a $6,000,000 FY2026 appropriation from the state general fund to the Arizona Department of Transportation for the East Wilford Road extension project in the city of Show Low.
Morgan Brown, city manager of Show Low, described the project as the region’s top priority and said the city and a developer have committed roughly $7,000,000 in matching funds for a project that is 100% designed and shovel-ready. Brown said the extension would create a bypass that reduces congestion on state highways, improves emergency response times to Summit Healthcare, and provides an additional evacuation route for wildfires and flooding.
Mayor John Leach, who spent three decades in the Show Low fire department, underscored the road’s role in evacuations and emergency response, saying the extension would allow responders to reach the hospital more quickly during high-traffic events.
Committee members from areas with wildfire histories and seasonal visitor spikes expressed support; the bill was moved and received a due-pass recommendation (roll-call remarks recorded a 6–0 tally with 4 not voting). The project is intended to leverage local matching funds and address traffic and safety needs in the White Mountains region.
Next steps: HB2220 will proceed on the legislative calendar with the committee’s due-pass recommendation.
