Avenue 3-1/2E alignment reconsidered

It could be back to the drawing board for the alignment of a portion of the proposed extension of Avenue 3-1/2E to the south.

At the request of landowners, the Yuma City Council will reconsider the alignment today during its roundtable work session at 3 p.m. and regular work session at 5 p.m., as well as at its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the council chambers, Yuma City Hall, One City Plaza.

The project, as approved by the city council in an earlier decision, would extend 24th Street east from Avenue 3E and tie into the Avenue 3-1/2E alignment, along with widening Avenue 3-1/2E to 56th Street. The roadway would then angle to the west to connect with Avenue 3E.

However, landowners have expressed concern about the impact of the project on property south of 40th Street.

As a result, the council will consider other potential alignments for Avenue 3-1/2E.

Either way, there is no money in the 10-year Capital Improvement Program to construct the roadway to the south at this time, said Greg Hyland, city spokesman. At this time, the city is only contracting for the preliminary design to establish the roadway's footprint in an effort to protect it from major developments that would later have to be bought out.

The Avenue 3-1/2E project is in response to a study that recommended an alternative route around the main gate of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to ease congestion from the increasing amount of truck traffic traveling to the agricultural coolers that have been built in recent years in the area around the air station.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.