[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6695859,"mediaKeyId","2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03","parentId",2370858,"title","Cochise County details Davis Road safety upgrades, right-of-way acquisitions","audioSeconds",194,"startMs",72000,"endMs",266000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03&start=72&end=266","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03/thumbnail_72000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6695859/Cochise-County/Arizona/Cochise-County-details-Davis-Road-safety-upgrades-right-of-way-acquisitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6695859-0bf11b5ea45c04b9481643d78798b81f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=ay2OT~NH7EN3U2ru32~SNBK11Kq-zjVfPaeQn-W2QSKsvfSe7r9-RH58Obl4mclFvZOKEMPYL~GvLatquNKFkERfkrLW-8kW7TZt2-HK~eoVjr~twRo6ahO7aE7PizLSyp1LezWZp4XPKZWSyyySfYwZw-KhZ01xDgUIwWlo~tno3VV1byfW~SvTUCMH6QH4CGMGefttU69ip4lMUZHm~6ixZIfci2dgNFM0n9VbFv15GezNarEgozjk6c8ZYOkTAe6UP36ZdivnGr1fZRD-NKGmbG0kfrOnYfYTg2fWyvE9AmJa34Zdz74KghGMph78-VAi3Pu4GUAOgDCyJE8bVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cochise County","date","2025-02-21T16:11:49.803Z","article","Cochise County engineering staff presented a plan Feb. 20 to reduce flooding and improve safety on Davis Road, a roughly 7.8-mile corridor that has repeatedly closed during heavy rains.

The presentation to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors at a special work session in Bisbee said design work is under way and that right-of-way acquisitions are in progress. Engineering staff said, “We have right of way perfected on 97 properties, and we still need to acquire on 49 properties,” and described targeted work at Milepost 5 and Milepost 13 to replace culverts and improve site distance at a low point that frequently floods.

The update framed the work as largely safety- and drainage-focused rather than an immediate conversion to a four-lane highway. Engineering staff said the current design includes widening shoulders (to about 8 feet) and targeted box-culvert installations at critical locations; the existing westbound lane in places would become the shoulder rather than adding a new travel lane.

Why it matters: Davis Road has a history of closures during monsoon events. County staff said improving drainage and shoulder width will reduce closures and improve safe passage for oversized and commercial vehicles.

Key details and funding: engineering staff said the project has multiple funding pieces but not enough yet to construct the full corridor. They reported a $1,000,000 design contribution from the MPO (referred to in the presentation as the “service to MPO”), a state earmark of $6,100,000, design costs of about $1,800,000, and an estimated $2,000,000 for additional right-of-way for this segment. For the full 7.8-mile project, staff estimated an all-at-once construction cost of $25 million–$30 million and said the county will pursue grants to cover remaining needs.

Staff also described a separate Davis Road study (listed in the presentation as the Highway 80 to Central segment) that received a RAISE planning grant of roughly $2,000,000 to reach 30% design and obtain NEPA clearance. That study covers a longer corridor (about 22 miles in presentation remarks) and carried a staff-estimated eventual construction cost of about $73,000,000; staff emphasized that those larger construction costs would depend on future grant awards.

Project status and schedule: staff said the targeted culvert/shoulder work for the immediate safety fixes should be designed by 2026 and that environmental clearances (NEPA) are expected toward the end of the year for the shown design elements. ADOT will provide construction oversight where federal funds are used, staff said.

Right-of-way process: because federal funds are part of some project elements, staff described following federal acquisition procedures: title search and insurance, an appraisal, an offer to property owners, and negotiation. The presentation noted 11 right-of-way acquisitions complete on one Davis segment, two more in escrow, and one still under negotiation. A property owner identified in the presentation as “Cody” was referenced as having an easement/title issue that has moved to escrow.

Context and background: staff said Davis Road has been the subject of engineering investigation since the early 2000s, with drainage investigations beginning around 2010 and design work previously completed by about 2015; the current effort is updating older designs and securing NEPA clearance so construction grants can be pursued.

Next steps: staff said the county will continue design work, pursue grants and acquire remaining right-of-way where required. No formal board action or vote occurred during the work session; the presentation was informational only.

Ending: The supervisors did not take action during the work session. Staff said they will return with further design rollouts and grant-application updates as they are available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","20250221 Engineering and Natural Resources Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","At a Feb. 20 work session, county engineering staff outlined plans to add shoulders, replace culverts and acquire right-of-way on Davis Road to reduce flood closures and improve safety; funding is a mix of state earmarks, discretionary funds and county HEERF dollars, with full construction dependent on grants.","taxTitle","Cochise County, Arizona","taxId",27859,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6695845,"Cochise County seeks grants to extend Ramsey Canyon path, replace SunSites sidewalks",433,1537000,1970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03&start=1537&end=1970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03/thumbnail_1537000.jpg","/articles/6695845/Cochise-County/Arizona/Cochise-County-seeks-grants-to-extend-Ramsey-Canyon-path-replace-SunSites-sidewalks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6695845-8887058597ba2a3874a90cda60d590ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149812&Signature=gZcpBDh~ud7pBwRFYAfUCyJGjKtWBxljXkFbBQTyA2gwZ-glgsmC1pWn7T5BfOrEWQc2xecOSnPi1zS7BTjnCPjCQvobOK9Pt-N7uajWPdvnp5BSdeCUg90iwnyrtxvih1dqie77e4mrssTcj5wvgNdGRFzsSHYniHHVEvz8gHdaTqpcA~MLlISkr6zXzzKThq-m4jgIbwH0F~irzia-XwKZMGwPe9dD5hW-D0MSxGpw9J6bQzLZYNIoKVlf8JsCcoQ9Yea~hYkYoaseC-z8hpU8WTMsRlBiniw835ECXzkiFGyLZz21BUPuh9j0fQuiFkiurBW4BFr8U5-COUVyuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cochise County engineering staff told supervisors Feb. 20 that the county is moving forward on a package of active‑transportation and pedestrian projects, including an extension of the Ramsey Canyon multi-use path and sidewalk replacements in SunSites.

Staff described a project assessment for extending the existing Ramsey Canyon multi-use path east to Highway 92 on the north side of Ramsey Road, with an anticipated construction cost of about $2,300,000. The presentation said the project would be funded through federal funds administered by the MPO (presentation referred to the entity as the “serviced MPO”) and that the serviced MPO allocates federal funds for regional active-transportation projects.

On SunSites, staff said frontage-road sidewalks do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the county is carrying out design, survey and property-owner outreach; in some blocks the county already has right-of-way, while in other locations it does not. Stafford Lane and an existing multi-use path to Buffalo Soldier Trail were discussed as existing facilities that need coordination with new development to provide property access without forcing driveways onto the bypass.

The Foothills parking lot at the county building in Sierra Vista was noted as still planned for an upgrade and the county intends to go to bid on that project when design is complete.

Why it matters: staff said the extension and ADA upgrades will improve access for residents who use the multi-use path and sidewalks for recreation and daily travel. The projects rely on grant programs and regional MPO allocations.

Ending: staff said they will continue design and grant applications; supervisors received an informational update and did not take formal action during the work session.","County engineering reported plans to extend a multi-use path on Ramsey Canyon toward Highway 92, pursue grants for construction, and design ADA-compliant sidewalk replacements in SunSites; staff also reviewed Stafford Lane access needs and a Foothills parking-lot upgrade.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6695850,"County engineering hires structural consultant to plan replacements for 63 county bridges",76,1684000,1760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03&start=1684&end=1760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03/thumbnail_1684000.jpg","/articles/6695850/Cochise-County/Arizona/County-engineering-hires-structural-consultant-to-plan-replacements-for-63-county-bridges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6695850-0e82c850294d24bcf83fc35d3f20f099/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149812&Signature=URDIl54SKY9s7pfd-CkX2OHXavKyqWmQ2~V1rkSEuU16gPVTk0E0AUUSAfEVB9i8xnhW0ZBKZj76FB5ijFZy0DFf60YzKgjvhqAmdFfvJAYxecAeFq3Ou-C3OxzsWepcYkOzcAkpH9EonVuQGnWYftTvb1-SXRmtkRjPvrdnfCHJA-wGbVaicpZuxe6jh0akohpSXgxw6ZP-8XYOVv98MDkpclMsxkjWpMI3FyAwdRtAZDGjBU85q0TAMng~XfU9JMBfw4Hx0cMqMLyDlRNFEFd9yEzJcnkrgYgZAWDtjZP9TgK1Jy2IifR0EtB-0DOm6pSsCMnB6W~cIcZAVP~N6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cochise County engineering staff told supervisors Feb. 20 that the county owns about 63 bridge structures and has engaged structural engineers to develop a 20-year replacement plan.

Staff said ADOT inspects county-owned bridges every two years, and that several of the county’s bridges are structurally deficient or obsolete. Engineering staff said the county hired structural engineers (identified in the presentation as Consort Engineering) to prepare a prioritized replacement plan and load/weight analyses.

Examples given included Rucker Canyon Bridge, which staff said currently carries a 5-ton weight limit. Staff described a prior incident—Hereford Bridge was damaged in the mid-2000s—and said the county later replaced that structure using off-system bridge federal funds. Staff laid out the typical federal off-system bridge funding path: scoping grant, design grant, and a construction funding grant, a sequence that staff said can take three to five years.

Staff also noted other local bridge or culvert priorities, including culvert replacements at Leslie Canyon and a wooden bridge on Pierce Road that staff said needs either board repairs or replacement; the presentation noted the federal definition that a structure wider than 20 feet is classified as a bridge for inspection purposes.

Why it matters: aging bridge structures with load restrictions affect route availability for residents and commercial traffic and create maintenance priorities that may require federal grants and multi-year planning.

Ending: staff said the county will continue applying for off-system bridge funds and implement the prioritized replacement plan as funding allows. No formal vote or action was taken at the work session.","Cochise County said Feb. 20 it has engaged structural engineers to develop a 20-year replacement plan for roughly 63 bridge structures, some more than 100 years old; off-system federal bridge funds and a multi-step grant process were described.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6695854,"County, ADOT and GSA outline Douglas port connector plan; funding figures remain unsettled",205,1061000,1266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03&start=1061&end=1266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03/thumbnail_1061000.jpg","/articles/6695854/Cochise-County/Arizona/County-ADOT-and-GSA-outline-Douglas-port-connector-plan-funding-figures-remain-unsettled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6695854-5d66a4f05edebc86f5ddcd8f326c17d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149812&Signature=PE85w6ZVtE8X2cJXOkojPYAniu9lRH3XjTtcQtuXgX0W237GuCeQhBBCNCCIEKB7jixrSXbCI4JZHjcBbCsAkoprtezQ-RxZGusrZgxygXmthE721dZvVkRYigoZBTFpesptjJsCIoFl~NSH6h7fqK0TTfEK2fFqsfCtwHU6-kY9hTd3MbN5pWy60-AsZPBfXzaF1Qw9-SJ-~KBWG80l5oEKixMG7rAr~oNMBJztBfvlSG3GyAHxmPPrl9IqPP68rwpxx1jfBCTSe2SFQqN102nwiFlsQuJo083IVSGknoaAEyKrEui40Fo6j2Ki-lchZDITjcMt0~0LZJVL5XlUJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cochise County engineering staff told supervisors Feb. 20 that ADOT is expected to complete design work for a new connector from the Douglas port of entry to Highway 80 and that the preferred alternative is James Ranch Road.

The presentation described this as an ADOT city–county project; engineering staff said ADOT should complete a design concept by March and that the county has roughly $5,000,000 for design. Staff reported additional contributions of $4,400,000 from Arizona Smart Funds, $100,000 of county HEERF funds and $500,000 from the city of Douglas for project elements. Staff also said the General Services Administration (GSA) has about $27,300,000 in its budget for site work (drainage and related site items) on the port complex.

Staff cited an anticipated construction cost of about $49,000,000 for the connector road itself, and also noted references in the discussion to a larger $80,000,000 total project figure that mixes building, drainage and roadway elements. Presenters said that while GSA is advancing the federal port facility (with a design-build contract and an expected site/earthwork groundbreaking in August), the road construction funding still requires further grant awards and lobbying.

Timeline and coordination: engineering staff said the GSA site (port building and immediate drainage) is on a faster track under a design-build contract; the site/earthwork groundbreaking was discussed for August (presentation noted 2025 as the near-term timeframe). Staff said the port building’s design-build contract could finish and open the facility by mid-2028, and that the connector road could be built by 2028 if funding is secured and right-of-way and design proceed on schedule. The county will acquire right-of-way for the connector using city funds where the project lies in the county, staff said.

Inspection station and operations: staff said ADOT and GSA are coordinating placement of the state inspection station so trucks can be routed through the federal port of entry and then directly into the state inspection area rather than traveling to the existing Highway 191 inspection site.

Why it matters: staff said the connector would provide a modern, four-lane divided highway into the port area with roundabouts to manage flows and substantial culvert/drainage work because the site lies in a flood zone. The project would affect regional freight movement and local road connections.

Ending: staff said the county will continue to apply for grants and coordinate with ADOT, GSA and the city of Douglas; supervisors received the update but took no formal action during the work session.","At a Feb. 20 work session, county engineering staff described plans for a connector road from the Douglas port of entry to Highway 80 with ADOT handling design; staff cited a preferred alignment (James Ranch Road), a $49 million construction estimate and multiple partial funding sources but said a clear total for construction remains unsettled.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6695840,"Engineering update flags unregulated subdivisions, potential maintenance reductions and long-term development pressure",40,2176000,2216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03&start=2176&end=2216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370858-1ba8dcde7fa13b0d3f15a64652918d03/thumbnail_2176000.jpg","/articles/6695840/Cochise-County/Arizona/Engineering-update-flags-unregulated-subdivisions-potential-maintenance-reductions-and-long-term-development-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6695840-ff5def61ef5ed11c988a39a31c08c117/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149812&Signature=I9CYlXbXJ5rBzG7kXsF2Z54H3GSBOMw9PWyz4KZyfA~avatur9SmZ-0WAmYIf61R61Toe-V9SbGcBXAqw~2jocZ00LOEDfAZUR2fWClxE1nYeDlkLop22BaZUmO4xdBkpbutg85fcllep3vMryTruTmuVi9agcQ1NlV03MIPuJfx6Sw8aPpOQ24DyBX~mPUSuJHn~Z0C0-sJx9hj6FIgK-YIPHCfbcoRwdfbg~A2UM9LRcTzPlgNf2~kFUJjrDqsuW0Ocb1KrptjF0Zh6impBVvDP1RTJxAKMd~0S5Tqptw3g7jUnePo2nXQU7z2yGHCvwqNuwmC1SLHOhQBz0NeQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cochise County engineering staff used part of the Feb. 20 update to explain the county’s inventory of unregulated subdivisions—areas created by records of survey where lots were split before modern platting rules—and the maintenance challenges those areas present.

Staff said one example, described in the presentation as the “Ronald Reagan” area, covers roughly 6,000 acres originally split into large parcels and later redivided into smaller 40‑acre records of survey and, in some cases, still-smaller lots. The presentation showed assessor maps and suggested that, depending on zoning (presented as RU-4 in the slide), some 40‑acre parcels could allow up to 10 homes; staff cautioned these are theoretical maximums tied to zoning and did not announce any approvals.

Staff described a maintenance burden where county roads serve only a handful of homes—one example noted approximately two miles of county‑maintained road serving four houses—and said the county keeps a list of candidate roads that could be removed from the maintenance list if conditions warrant.

Why it matters: the county said these unregulated subdivisions can create long-term infrastructure obligations—roads, drainage, and sidewalks—without a clear revenue or maintenance mechanism in place. Staff said historic development practices changed over time and that some subdivisions were created before modern planning and zoning requirements.

Ending: staff said they track these areas and maintain a list of roads that might be considered for removal from county maintenance; supervisors did not take formal action during the work session.","County staff described areas developed by records of survey—so-called unregulated subdivisions—where age and parcel sizes have left roads unimproved; staff outlined maintenance burdens, the possibility of removing lightly used roads from the maintenance list and the development history that created many small parcels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cochise County details Davis Road safety upgrades, right-of-way acquisitions

Cochise County seeks grants to extend Ramsey Canyon path, replace SunSites sidewalks

County engineering hires structural consultant to plan replacements for 63 county bridges

County, ADOT and GSA outline Douglas port connector plan; funding figures remain unsettled

Engineering update flags unregulated subdivisions, potential maintenance reductions and long-term development pressure