Rattlesnake Wash TI

Last night I checked out a public meeting on the traffic interchange to be built further east on Interstate 40, otherwise known as Rattlesnake Wash.

The meeting was held by folks from the Arizona Department of Transportation and there were also city and county staff on hand.

Here are the basics. The new TI would allow Interstate 40 to pass over Mohave Drive (which doesn't exist yet). On the long range plan for the Interstate, it appears that it will be widened at some point to three lanes each way, and the improvements that come with this TI project will allow for the eventual widening.

Phase 1 of the project includes the I-40 overpass with arterial street connections south to Louise Avenue and to Industrial Boulevard north. Estimated cost is $36.4 million. ADOT will pay 70% of the cost and that leaves the City of Kingman to come up with nearly $11 million for their share. Still a few hoops to jump through but if everything goes as planned, construction to begin in 2013. That is five to six years away from completion.

Phase 2 of the project would include building a road from Louise Avenue south and southwest to connect to Haulapai Mountain Road. Estimated cost is $11.7 million. The City of Kingman is expected to pick up the tab. Construction should be finished no later than July of 2015.

So here is the situation, the City of Kingman will be on the hook for about $22.5 million dollars for the RW project. I wonder where they will get the money needed for it. Another bond issue perhaps?? Maybe the voters will implement a property tax?? Cigarette tax or other variations of 'sin' taxes??

I see a scenario or two here. (1) would be that a private developer with interest in the area approaches the city to do a retail tax incentive proposal and (2) the city sells an asset it has in it's possession and hopefully gets enough money from that sale to pay for the costs for phase 1 and phase 2 of the RW project.

Any other ideas??