Raintree Drive Extension

Project Phase

Planning

Design

Construction

Completed

Project Summary

The goal of the Raintree Drive Extension project was to provide a direct connection between the State Route Loop 101 Freeway and Scottsdale Road. This extension will simplify the route from Hayden Road to Scottsdale Road and help to relieve some of the traffic congestion currently experienced on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard.

Project Information

Budget: $41,000,000 Phase 1 / $4,300,000 Phase 2

Sponsoring Division: Transportation

Funding Source: Bonded

Project Location: Raintree Drive between Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 Freeway

The Scottsdale Airpark is a major employment center within Scottsdale, and the network of roadways, circulation and access is critical to the businesses and industry of the Airpark. The City of Scottsdale has completed several studies to address some of the transportation and access issues currently hindering drivers. The Raintree Drive Extension project is one component of Scottsdale's Airpark Area Circulation Study which seeks to improve mobility in and around the Airpark.

Map showing Raintree Drive project area with highlighted route.

The first phase of work built roundabouts at the intersections of 76th Place and Redfield Road, and at Hayden and Raintree roads. The road was also expanded to provide capacity improvements along the roads in between the two roundabouts. Public Art by Phillip K. Smith was installed in the Raintree Roundabout.

The second phase of the project took place from the Thunderbird Road alignment at 73rd Street to the recently completed Roundabout at 76th Place and Redfield Road. This segment was two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound. The project added a second eastbound lane, completing the 4-lane major collector roadway.

Project History

The city of Scottsdale prepared a Design Concept Report for this segment of roadway which included recommendations regarding number of travel lanes, raised medians, major intersections (roundabout, traffic signal or side street stop control), minor side street lane configurations, safety considerations, driveway access, landscape and streetscape concepts, public art, drainage improvements, and right of way needs.

The Raintree Drive Extension was included in the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), funded by Proposition 400 regional transportation sales tax funds.