The Arizona RepublicOct. 18, 2007 07:50 AMThe first phase of Bell Road construction west of Grand Avenue in Surprise is ahead of schedule, with an estimated completion by Thanksgiving Day.

Crews are in the final stages of rebuilding a 1.75-mile westbound stretch of Bell Road between Grand Avenue and Parkview Place. This phase is one of five to improve the roadway from Grand Avenue west to the Beardsley Canal, just past Loop 303.

The six-mile project has an estimated total cost of $12.5 million. Phoenix-based Markham Contracting Company Inc. is doing the work

Engineering Director Bob Maki said the city is working closely with the contractor. “We meet every Thursday morning at 7 o’clock trying to anticipate any difficulties for the week.

On Saturday, contractors will lay the final layer of asphalt for the first phase of Bell Road reconstruction, putting the project four weeks ahead of schedule, Surprise officials report.

Westbound lanes between Grand Avenue and Litchfield Road will be closed until about noon. The westbound lanes from Litchfield Road to Parkview Place will likely be closed until Saturday evening. Westbound drivers will be rerouted but eastbound lanes will not be affected.

Maki said that the Saturday closures proposed by the contractor have speeded up reconstruction.XXXXX”We really appreciate the tolerance of the businesses along Bell Road here in agreeing with this disruption, knowing that better days are coming and they’re coming a lot faster than we had planned on,” Maki said. “We also appreciate the cooperation of the motorists.”Striping, the final step in the first phase, will occur just before Thanksgiving.

Construction began Sept. 10. Initially, the city estimated a mid-December completion. Maki attributed the quick progress to teamwork between the city and its contractor, good weather, and no unexpected problems.

With the first round nearing its end, future phases include:

• Westbound lanes from Parkview Place west to Loop 303, with an estimated July 2009 completion.

• Both sides of Bell from Loop 303 west to the Beardsley Canal, with an estimated July 2010 completion.

• Eastbound lanes from Loop 303 east to Parkview Place, with an estimated July 2011 completion.

• Eastbound lanes from Parkview Place east to Grand Avenue, with an estimated July 2012 completion.

The city anticipates the rebuilt road will last at least 20 years. These improvements, however, will not affect capacity on the city’s busiest road.