Pinal County widening of Hunt Highway: Florence staff detail right-of-way needs, timeline and costs

Pinal County's ongoing Hunt Highway widening project will bring a multi-phase reconstruction into the Town of Florence, town staff told the council March 3, but additional right-of-way purchases and third-party negotiations could affect the start and alignment of work.

Lindsay Randall presented the project overview, saying the town completed a State Land purchase on Dec. 2, 2025 for 19.587 acres at a stated cost of $1,782,000 to secure the alignment within town limits. She told the council the county's overall project runs from Magma down to Franklin and that Florence's segment (Franklin to Magic Ranch, southeast of the Magic Ranch entrance) will be completed first because of right-of-way sequencing.

Randall said Pinal County is starting an appraisal for an additional parcel (referred to in the presentation as ALA) that the county expects will take about six weeks. "They would like to be paid for the right-of-way that we need to acquire," she said. The town currently holds the right-of-way for the corridor but not the "ultimate right-of-way" required for the full project footprint.

A 90%-phase construction estimate dated June 28, 2024 for the town portion was presented at $5,221,000; Randall noted that estimate may change given inflation and the time elapsed since that estimate. She also said an IGA with Pinal County approved Apr. 3, 2023 included design through the consultant (design estimate $825,000) and that the town paid its 25% share of that design cost.

Council members asked whether the eight-month timeline Randall described referred only to the Florence portion; Randall confirmed it would. Vice Mayor Adam asked whether the town or county would bear the cost for the additional ALA right-of-way; Randall said the town would be responsible for that acquisition. Council members urged staff to pursue joint negotiations and outreach with the landowner and expressed safety concerns for students near the site, noting a past traffic fatality at that location.

Randall also said county work could be delayed while the county negotiates with the Heila River Indian Community and Union Pacific Railroad crossings, which will need to be resolved before the county proceeds with its phase. The county is also reportedly attempting to assign existing job-order-contract contractors to avoid a public bid for the construction phase.

Why it matters: the project is intended to improve capacity and safety on Hunt Highway and to better connect Florence with adjoining county work, but the town's obligation to acquire additional right-of-way and third-party approvals mean schedule and cost risks remain. Council members asked staff to identify appropriate contacts and to pursue tabled joint negotiations with the landowner and stakeholders.

Next steps: staff will monitor Pinal County's appraisal timeline, pursue contact information for the right-of-way owner, coordinate outreach for the March 15'122 planned temporary closure tied to the project, and bring the construction amendment to the IGA to council when the county advances the work.