A colorful balloon release kicked off the official start of construction on the Gilbert Road Extension today. Valley Metro and city of Mesa hosted a groundbreaking event and community fall festival at Stapley Drive and Main Street to mark the milestone.
“By breaking ground on the Gilbert Road Extension, we continue to build our NextMesa,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles. “We’ve seen how light rail has revitalized our downtown and now we’re taking Mesa to the next level by extending the benefits of light rail to new neighborhoods and the greater East Valley.”
Local officials, with the community looking on, released balloons to mark the start of construction on the Gilbert Road light rail extension.
Rail service will be extended an additional 1.9 miles on Main Street from Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road. A 3.1-mile extension to downtown Mesa opened in August 2015.
“This extension is the East Valley’s gateway to countless connections in Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe,” said Valley Metro Interim CEO Scott Smith. “Expanding regional travel options is important for future riders and has proven itself as a catalyst for strong economic activity.”
The construction contractor, Stacy and Witbeck/Sundt, constructed the Northwest Extension in Phoenix, which opened earlier this year and a portion of the original 20 miles of light rail that opened in 2008.
“We are proud to partner with the city of Mesa and Valley Metro on this project,” said Stacy and Witbeck/Sundt Project Manager Jennifer Donaldson. “We also look forward to working closely with the community, minimizing the impact of construction and working to build a quality product for Mesa and this region.”
Construction will initiate the week of October 17. The extension is slated to open in late 2018/early 2019 with a programmed budget of $152.7 million from federal and local funds.
