$9.5M goes to Miller Road expansion

Miller Road is slated for expansion to four lanes, a project totaling nearly $9.6 million. The project will be funded by a grant from the Maricopa Association of Governments and matching funds from the City of Buckeye.

MAG is a regional nonprofit that creates a coalition of governmental entities in the greater Phoenix area including 27 cities and towns, three Native nations and the Arizona Department of Transportation. One of its core focuses is improving transportation, including through grants such as the Arterial Widening Grant Program which will fund the Miller Road project.

The improvements will expand Miller Road from two to four lanes, widening it in both directions in addition to constructing a raised median and 6-foot sidewalk. It will extend from Broadway Road to Lower Buckeye Road, approximately 1 mile. With a daily traffic volume of approximately 20,200 vehicles, according to city documents, the project will seek to address congestion concerns.

"The road is currently operating at or in excess of its full capacity. Widening the road and adding additional traffic lanes will increase its capacity," reads the document. "All roadway users will benefit from the proposed roadway improvements through the doubled capacity of Miller Road in this section."

The grant will provide $6.64 million, with a $2.85 million match from the city. The match funds will come from the city's General Obligation Bond. By the time construction starts, the city's required match must be paid in full to ADOT.

Next steps include an intergovernmental agreement with MAG. There is no timeline of when this will occur. Construction is estimated to start sometime in Fiscal Year 2028 or 2029.