McKellips Road: Loop 101 to Alma School Road

The Maricopa Department of Transportation (MCDOT) had proposed improvements to McKellips Road between Loop 101 and Alma School Road, in conjunction with planned improvements to Tribal sewer and water utilities by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) within this corridor. The road improvement project included widening McKellips Road between SR101L and 92nd Street to three lanes in each direction and construction of bicycle lanes, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and a raised median; between 92nd Street and Alma School Road, the project included the addition of bicycle lanes, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and a raised median. The project encompasses approximately 40 acres, including over 4 acres of temporary construction easements. A grant of easement for roadway and utility purposes on individual Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-allotted lands is a federal action that requires review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and BIA approval. The roadway improvements were intended to benefit SRPMIC and travelers with an improved, safer roadway, as well as improved utility service for SRPMIC members.

WestLand personnel completed all necessary biological and cultural field work to draft the Biological Evaluation and Class III Cultural Resources Inventory documents in support of the required Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 consultations. WestLand also prepared Clean Water Act Section 404 documentation for review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which resulted in a finding of ‘no waters of the United States present´ for the project. These technical documents were used as the basis for the draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which WestLand prepared to BIA guidelines. During this process, WestLand personnel coordinated all aspects of the project including agency meetings, document review and revision, and project schedule.

After completion of the NEPA process and publication of the FONSI, WestLand was awarded further work monitoring to prevent impact to the protected bald eagles in the project corridor during geotechnical potholing and developing the Historic Properties Treatment Plan (HPTP) for phased archaeological data recovery prior to construction.