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News Archive > Thompson Peak Parkway Bridge

Thompson Peak Parkway Bridge

Latest Updates

March 2023

Scottsdale's city manager recently confirmed that Bond Project #62, Thompson Peak Bridge Expansion, is on scheduled as follows:

  • Design Phase – 2024
  • Construction Phase 2025 – 2026

Due to escalated costs from inflation and overall construction delays across the country, costs for many of the city’s bond projects have escalated. To date, the city has been able to find additional funding and while some projects have been completed well past their original completion date, no bond projects have been eliminated.

February 2020

At the February 11, 2020 Scottsdale City Council work session, city staff presented for discussion the 2019 Bond Project Implementation report. It contains a list of the 58 bond projects and their projected start and finish dates. Three of the projects identified as impactful to DC Ranch are:
Dates: 2020 – 2024, Project #53 Build Multi-Use Sports Fields in the area of Bell Road
Dates: 2023 – 2025, Project #43 Add a Dog Park to Thompson Peak Park
Dates: 2024*– 2026, Project #62 Thompson Peak Bridge Expansion
*While the report shows 2027, Scottsdale city manager Jim Thompson notified the DC Ranch Community Council on March 13, 2020 that the bridge expansion will be moved up to 2024, year five of the bond projects.

Feb. 27, 2020

City of Scottsdale staff have created project timelines for the 58 bond projects that were passed by voters in November. Final adjustments and approval are needed by the Scottsdale City Council. The $319 million worth of projects will span ten years. Of the three projects with proximity to DC Ranch, the 94th Street and Bell Road soccer fields, that will also handle overflow parking for Westworld, are currently slated to begin design work this year. The dog park at Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway and the Thompson Peak Bridge expansion fall in later years.

Nov. 25, 2019

On Nov. 5, 2019, Scottsdale voters overwhelmingly passed all three bond questions, approving more than $300 million dollars in infrastructure improvements and new amenities. City staff will now implement a procedure to prioritize the projects. Once this is complete, they will start on the development approval process for projects ranked with the highest priority. This is a multi-step process that often includes project design, community input meetings, construction bids, the sale of the bond to cover the cost, and city council review. While the timelines will vary by project, most will take two – five years to complete.

Community Council staff will monitor and engage on bond projects in or near DC Ranch with the goal of accentuating the project’s benefits for the DC Ranch community-at-large while minimizing impact on residents and construction inconvenience.

Oct. 1, 2019

During the past several months, Community Council staff researched various elements of the 2019 bond: how the bond projects will impact the DC Ranch community-at-large; what the financial impact to residents will be; and the city’s performance and oversight of prior bond measures.

The Community Council board of directors has concluded that if the bonds are passed by voters, there will be many positive impacts on DC Ranch and Scottsdale, the city we call home:

  • Passage of the bond packages will bring two projects that have been top priorities for DC Ranch residents for many years: expansion of Thompson Peak Bridge to four lanes, and construction of a dog park at Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.
  • The Bond enables reinvestment in our City’s infrastructure while adding amenities for citizens, both positive influences on property values.
  • Also, the Bond projects closely correlate with five of DC Ranch’s eight Community Values – Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Lifestyles, Lifelong Learning, Arts and Cultural Opportunities and Relationship with the Larger Community.

Other projects near DC Ranch include a new fire station that will reduce the demand on the Scottsdale fire station located on Market Street, lighted sports fields located north of Bell Road at 94th Street that will occasionally handle large-event parking, and several upgrades to WestWorld. Council staff will monitor all approved projects near DC Ranch to ensure that the community’s interests are represented.

“Due to the lack of voter support for bond issues, the City’s spending on capital improvements has, for almost 20 years, failed to keep up. DC Ranch cannot sustain a world class community if the infrastructure around us is failing, says Ron Belmont, Community Council Board President.

July 29, 2019

On July 25, the Community Council Board of Directors voted to publicly support the 2019 Scottsdale Bonds.

If Scottsdale voters pass all three bond questions, there will be many positive outcomes for DC Ranch – Thompson Peak Bridge will be expanded to four lanes, a Dog Park will be built at Hayden and Thompson Peak, and much-needed infrastructure repairs will be funded allowing Scottsdale to maintain its reputation as a world class city which enhances property values.

The Bond’s financing structure ensures homeowners will NOT see a property tax percentage increase on bond-related municipal taxes, because previously issued debt will be retired before the City assumes this new debt.

Click here to view the statement prepared for the Scottsdale City Council and other entities outside DC Ranch.

July 10, 2019

At its July 25, 2019 meeting, the Community Council board of directors is scheduled to decide if DC Ranch will publicly support the City of Scottsdale 2019 General Obligation Bonds that will be on the November ballot. The board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Desert Camp Community Center; residents are welcome to attend. Check dcranch.com for the latest agenda prior to the meeting.

During the past several months, the Community Council has researched various elements of the 2019 bond to include: how the bond projects will impact the DC Ranch community-at-large; what the financial impact to residents will be; and the city’s performance and oversight of prior bonds. The Community Council has concluded that the 2019 bonds will have many positive impacts on DC Ranch and Scottsdale, the city we call home.

June 19, 2019

At its May 23 board meeting, the Community Council discussed the pros and cons of the projects in the Scottsdale Bond as it pertains to the DC Ranch community-at-large. The board concluded there are many very positive outcomes for DC Ranch if voters approve the bond request in November. The following motion was passed unanimously: To approve Director of Public Affairs Chris Irish to draft a statement of support for passage of the City of Scottsdale’s bond package; Governance Committee will review, and Board will then vote on support.

Irish shared a draft of the statement with the Governance Committee on June 2 and also gave a presentation on the bond and the Council’s potential support at the Ranch Association meeting on June 10.

April 18, 2019

On Monday, April 15, Scottsdale City Council voted to hold a November 5 Bond Election. There will be three ballot questions for a total of 58 bond projects with costs not to exceed $319 million.

If the bonds pass, homeowners will not see a property tax increase as previously-issued debt will be retired prior to this debt being assumed.

Included in the bonds are several projects DC Ranch residents have expressed support for – the Thompson Peak bridge expansion and a nearby dog park. Other projects near DC Ranch include multi-use, lighted sports fields in the area of Bell Road that will occasionally handle large-event parking and several upgrades to WestWorld.

The Reata Wash flood measure was not included.

April 5, 2019

In a recent Scottsdale City Council work session, excluding the Reata Wash flood control measure from the bond or making it a stand-alone ballot question was discussed. The City Council plans to finalize the bond projects on April 16.

If you would like the Reata Wash project in the bond you should communicate that to the Mayor and City Council members prior to April 16.

Email Mayor Lane and all City Council members: citycouncil@ScottsdaleAz.gov

At this time, it looks like the other projects in or near DC Ranch will be included in the bond. However, this may change so if any of the three projects listed below are important to you, it is advised you communicate your preference for inclusion on them also.

• Thompson Peak Bridge expansion project
• Dog park at Thompson Peak Park project (Hayden and Thompson Peak)
• Lighted soccer park at Bell and 94th Street that could occasionally handle event parking. This is one of three locations that have been identified; it is unlikely all three would be built.