Pinal County's Ralston Road Project Reaches 55% Completion Despite Major Flood Damage | The Locally Times
Official records show the critical infrastructure project overcame significant weather-related setbacks to advance past the halfway point, with paving and final work remaining on a revised schedule.
This milestone was achieved despite a major weather event in the summer of 2023 that caused extensive damage to the construction site and necessitated considerable recovery efforts. The project, designed to transform a rural dirt road into a paved, all-weather thoroughfare, continues to move forward on a revised timeline, demonstrating resilience in the face of unforeseen environmental challenges. The project's origins are detailed in Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting minutes from November 2, 2022. During this session, the board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), formally launching the endeavor. The project is funded as part of the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), a federal initiative to improve transportation infrastructure that provides access to federal lands. Records identify the project under the federal designation AZ FLAP PNSN (2). The primary objective is to pave approximately 8.5 miles of Ralston Road, extending from State Route 84 north to the Maricopa County line. The scope also includes the paving of an adjacent one-mile section of Peters and Nall Road. Prior to this project, the roadway was an unpaved dirt surface, prone to dust in dry conditions and impassibility during wet weather, posing safety and reliability concerns for residents, agricultural operations, and visitors accessing the nearby Sonoran Desert National Monument. Following the formal agreement, the project moved into the procurement phase. The Pinal County Board of Supervisors awarded the construction contract during its meeting on January 18, 2023. The contract, valued in the millions of dollars, was granted to a private contracting firm specializing in heavy civil construction. With the contract in place, mobilization and construction activities commenced in early 2023. The initial work involved extensive earthmoving, grading the roadbed to establish the proper elevation and cross-slope, and installing essential drainage infrastructure, such as culverts, to manage water flow. The original project schedule, as outlined in planning documents, anticipated a construction duration of approximately one year, targeting completion in early 2024. Progress was steady through the spring and early summer of 2023. However, the project faced a severe and unexpected test in late August 2023. The remnants of a powerful tropical storm moved across Arizona, delivering intense and concentrated rainfall to the region. Pinal County Public Works damage assessment reports compiled in the aftermath of the storm system detailed the catastrophic impact on the Ralston Road construction corridor. The high volume of water runoff overwhelmed the project site, which was in a vulnerable, partially constructed state. Large sections of the newly graded roadbed and compacted subgrade were washed away. Reports noted that drainage culverts, some newly installed, were damaged, clogged with debris, or completely undermined by the force of the water. The flooding effectively reset progress in multiple areas, turning the graded roadway back into a landscape of eroded gullies and deep washouts. In response to the widespread damage, construction activities were halted to allow for a thorough assessment. Pinal County public works documents from September 2023 describe a period of evaluation and planning to address the setback. The recovery effort was substantial, requiring the contractor to mobilize equipment for extensive rework. This included clearing debris, re-grading the entire length of the damaged sections, and repairing or replacing compromised drainage structures. The experience prompted a review of the project's hydrological designs to ensure the finished road would be resilient against similar future weather events. This recovery phase was not merely a repair job but a significant reconstruction effort that had to be integrated into the overall project plan, consuming valuable time and resources. Despite this major disruption, work resumed with a focus on both remediation and new construction. By early 2024, the combined efforts had advanced the project significantly. A Pinal County Public Works video update released in January 2024 officially marked the project's status as 55 percent complete. At this stage, the majority of the foundational work had been accomplished. This includes the completion of the primary earthwork and grading, including all the necessary rework following the flood. Furthermore, the installation of the network of drainage culverts and other water management systems was largely finished. The roadbed had been shaped and compacted, creating a stable base for the subsequent layers of the road structure. The remaining 45 percent of the project involves the final stages of road construction. The next major phase is the application of aggregate base course, a layer of crushed rock that provides strength and stability, over the prepared subgrade. Following the placement and compaction of the base course, the primary paving operations will commence, applying layers of asphalt to create the final road surface. The concluding tasks will include painting lane markings and other pavement striping, installing road signs, and finishing the shoulder areas. Due to the delays caused by the August 2023 flooding and the subsequent recovery work, the project's completion timeline has been adjusted. County project records now indicate an anticipated completion in the summer of 2024, a delay of several months from the original target. The project continues to be managed by Pinal County Public Works in coordination with the FHWA, ensuring all work adheres to federal and local standards.