Whispering Ranch Access Corridor Improvement Study

The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) conducted a planning study of the Whispering Ranch access corridor, between the Vulture Mine Road/Whispering Ranch Road intersection and the Patton Road/US 60 intersection through the Whispering Ranch Subdivision.

Study Overview

During large storm events, flooding through the study corridor can make the area difficult to access due to restrictions and/or closures at existing roadway dip drainage crossings, especially within the limits of the Hassayampa River crossing. Additionally, the continued growth in the area and access concerns for emergency vehicles during flood events establishes a need for an all-weather access.

This study provides the following outcomes:

  • Preferred Alternative for an all-weather access corridor through the Whispering Ranch Subdivision.
  • Recommendations for a new Hassayampa River crossing along the existing Patton Road.

Study Area
Whispering Ranch Study Area


Questions? We want your input.

For any questions regarding the Whispering Ranch access corridor, please contact MCDOT Senior Planner Angela Macaluso via email at Angela.Macaluso@maricopa.gov or phone at (602) 506-4176. 

Final Report

The final report detailing all study tasks and recommendations can be viewed here.

Preferred Alternative

Whispering Ranch Subdivision

The study conducted an alternatives evaluation for the four Candidate Alternatives identified for the Whispering Ranch Subdivision (see below for details). Evaluation criteria and an evaluation matrix, comparing the four Candidate Alternatives within the subdivision, was developed and can be found here 

Based on the technical evaluation findings and stakeholder and public input, Candidate Alternative #5 was selected as the Preferred Alternative within the Whispering Ranch subdivision.

The proposed roadway alignment from east to west generally follows the existing alignments of Patton Road/299th Avenue/Dixileta Drive/315th Avenue/ Dove Valley Road /355th Avenue /Vulture Mine Road.

Opportunities

  • The proposed alignment ties into the existing Whispering Ranch Road/Vulture Mine Road intersection with an improved 90-degree intersection

Constraints

  • Southern alignment that does not does not cover as much area as some of the other alignments
  • Existing overhead transmission power line corridor along Dove Valley Road, south of the proposed alignment
  • Proposed alignment ties into Vulture Mine Road at a new 90-degree intersection
TP028-Whispering-Ranch-Alternative-R2-101921

Hassayampa River Crossing

The Preferred Alternative at the Hassayampa River crossing was developed considering evaluation of historic flows and flood events in the area.

TP028-Hassayampa-Drawing-R2-101921

Patton Road East of the Hassayampa River

East of the Hassayampa River, Patton Road will generally remain in its existing alignment. Drainage enhancements will be made at existing crossing locations that require improvements.

TP028-Patton-Road-R2-101921
TP028-Hassayampa-Table-101921

Candidate Alternatives Information

The existing and future conditions analysis was used as a basis for developing Conceptual Alternatives along the study corridor. Six Conceptual Alternatives were developed for the Whispering Ranch Subdivision.

Based on the opportunities and constraints along each Conceptual Alternative, the following three Conceptual Alternatives and a no-build were selected as Candidate Alternatives for further evaluation within the Whispering Ranch Subdivision.

TP028-Whispering-Ranch-Candidate-Alt-R2-101921

ALTERNATIVE 2 (GREEN) – 11.3 miles
The proposed roadway alignment from east to west generally follows the existing alignments of Patton Road/299th Avenue/Painted Wagon Trail/Vulture Mine Road.

ALTERNATIVE 5 (ORANGE) – 11.4 miles
The proposed roadway alignment from east to west generally follows the existing alignments of Patton Road/299th Avenue/Dixileta Drive/315th Avenue/ Dove Valley Road /355th Avenue /Vulture Mine Road.

ALTERNATIVE 6 (PINK) – 11.4  miles
The proposed roadway alignment from east to west generally follows the existing alignments of Patton Road/299th Avenue/Peak View Road/307th Avenue/Dove Valley Road/355th Avenue/Vulture Mine Road.

NO-BUILD
Existing conditions to remain.

Existing Conditions

In studying the Whispering Ranch Access corridor, the project team has considered the following:

  1. Roadway Characteristics
  2. Land Use Considerations
  3. Utility and Drainage Considerations
  4. Environmental Considerations
  • Patton Road, 299th Avenue, Peak View Road, and Vulture Mine Road are two-lane paved roadways.
  • Patton Road right-of-way is sporadic with areas of private and State Trust Land ownership within the roadway alignment.
  • Patton Road crosses the Central Arizona Project (CAP)/Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct and the Hassayampa River.
  • Whispering Ranch Road and the existing roadway network within the Whispering Ranch Subdivision are unpaved dirt roadways.
  • The Whispering Ranch Subdivision roadway network is a private right-of-way.
  • Vulture Mine Road and Whispering Ranch Road rights-of-way are publicly owned and granted from Bureau of Land Management.