Aerospace Parkway Widening
The Aerospace Parkway Widening project included the expansion of approximately 1.5 miles of Aerospace Parkway to a four-lane desert parkway cross-section, widening the existing UPRR crossing near Nogales Highway, and extending Raytheon Parkway 0.4 miles south of Aerospace Parkway. Additional improvements featured the full reconstruction of the Nogales Highway intersection to increase capacity and enhance safety, along with comprehensive drainage enhancements, including the construction of a subarea detention basin to manage stormwater runoff.
Project Details
Location: City of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Initial Bid: $8.0 M
Construction Cost: $6.9 M
Owner: Pima County
Project Delivery: CMAR
Scope: Roadway expansion and reconstruction, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing widening, Raytheon Parkway extension, intersection reconstruction, drainage improvements; including subarea detention basin, grading and paving.
Project Recognition/Awards:
- 2019 Award of Merit (Transportation $5-$25 million), presented by Southern Arizona Branch, Arizona Chapter – American Public Works Association (APWA)
Community Benefits
The Aerospace Parkway Phase 2 project is a critical component of the larger regional transportation network, improving access to the Raytheon Campus and surrounding development areas while supporting long-term economic growth in Pima County.
Completed $1.1 million under budget, the project strengthens regional infrastructure, improves mobility, and supports continued expansion of the aerospace and technology industries.
Unique community benefits include:
- New roadway alignment to support future economic development
- Expansion of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing to improve safety and traffic capacity
- Improved regional and local traffic flow to accommodate increasing demand
Features
- New roadway alignment, including expansion of the existing two-lane Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing to a six-lane roadway with a center median
- Installation of multiple pavement sections: 6” asphalt concrete over 10” aggregate base course on new travel lanes, 2” mill and overlay on existing travel lanes, and 0.5” asphalt concrete friction course overlay
- New traffic signal at the Nogales Highway intersection
- Maintenance of existing traffic and access to nearby businesses throughout construction
- Street lighting installed to improve driver safety
- Public art enriching the community environment
- Enhanced roadside landscaping