Q. What is the goal of this project?
A. This project is an early step in the process of planning, designing, and building a proposed new roadway to meet current and future traffic demands and improve access to Loop 303 in north Peoria.
The city of Peoria--in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, and the Flood Control District of Maricopa County--is studying improvements to El Mirage Road between Loop 303 and Jomax Road. The proposed improvements include:
-
The two-mile extension of El Mirage Road from Loop 303 and Jomax Road,
-
Constructing bridges over McMicken Wash and the Beardsley Canal, and
-
The addition of signalized intersections at El Mirage and Happy Valley roads.
The project includes preparing a Design Concept Report (DCR) and an environmental study document known as an Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Q. What is a Design Concept Report or DCR?
A. A Design Concept Report (DCR) evaluates how to implement a proposed project. As the name suggests, it offers initial concepts for the project design based on the project’s size, location, nearby land uses, utilities, traffic volumes, types of roadway users, and many other factors. For this project, the DCR will include preliminary design and plans.
Q. What is an Environmental Assessment or EA?
A. An EA is used to determine whether the environmental impacts of a project are significant and whether there will be a need for further analysis and documentation. An EA is a concise document that briefly provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) (40 CFR 1508.1(h)).
Q. Has this proposed two-mile extension of El Mirage Road been studied before?
A. Yes. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) completed the El Mirage Road: SR303L to Jomax Road Feasibility Study in June 2022. The study evaluated the area's current traffic conditions, projected traffic conditions in the future (2040), traffic safety conditions, and other key data, and developed three design concepts for an alignment of El Mirage Road that would connect Loop 303 and Jomax Road. Read the entire study here. The current study is building upon the MAG study.
Q. How can members of the public ask questions or provide their input about this study and the proposed improvements?
A. The study team welcomes and encourages public comments and questions throughout the study period.
By Email: info@elmirageroadextension.com
By Mail: Avenue Consultants/El Mirage Road Extension, 5353 N. 16th Street, Suite 380, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Public meetings and a public hearing are anticipated in 2025. This website will provide information about dates, times, locations, and other key meeting details as soon as they are confirmed – so check back often!
You can also subscribe to receive email alerts about this study and upcoming opportunities to provide input. Simply email info@elmirageroadextension.com and ask to be added to the stakeholder database.


