Queen Creek/Pinal County Blog

Queen Creek has posted the following traffic alerts for Aug. 21-28:

1. Ocotillo Road: Hawes to Ellsworth Loop roads - Crews continue widening the north half of Ocotillo Road. Traffic will remain shifted to the south side of Ocotillo Road until paving operations are completed on the new portion of the road, and traffic can be shifted north so that crews can continue the necessary work on the south side of the street.
2. Ellsworth Loop & Queen Creek roads: Crews will have the northbound right lane closed so that work can be completed in a manhole in the intersection.
3. Ellsworth Road: Chandler Heights to Cloud roads - Crews will be working throughout this area on the widening of Ellsworth Road. Expect lane shifts, flaggers and off-duty police officers controlling traffic.
4. Hawes Road: Ocotillo to Queen Creek roads - Hawes Road will remain closed as crews continue work on the Gilbert CAP Waterline project.

The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Encanterra Country Club for the sixth annual chamber golf event and first annual chamber Golf-A-Thon.
The event is from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 6.
Tournament information is available on the chamber’s Web site www.queencreekchamber.org.
The chamber is actively seeking a title sponsor for this event; other sponsorship packages are also available.
Spaces are limited. To register, sponsor or donate contact the chamber at (480) 888-1709.

Queen Creek’s Apple Dumpling Café is continuing to collect canned food items for local food assistance programs that are in need.

Café owner Sue Bailey started the food drive in May after reading a story in the East Valley Tribune about struggling local charities during the tough economy. She said they have already collected a lot of food but are continuing the food drive for Pan de Vida, which provides a local food box assistance program for families. Bailey said anyone bringing in a non-perishable food item will get a free ice cream cone during their visit.

The Apple Dumpling Café is located on the southwest corner of Power and Chandler Heights roads in Queen Creek. For more information on the Apple Dumpling Cafe food drive, call Bailey at (480) 279-3879.

Queen Creek’s General Plan, the guiding document for growth and development, is subject to three major amendments. Open houses will be held on Aug. 27 and Sept. 24 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Town Hall for residents to comment and ask questions related to the proposed requests.
The General Plan Amendment process allows property owners to apply for major amendments to the Town’s existing General Plan once a year on June 15.
For specific information on the three requests being put forward visit www.queencreek.org.
Residents who are unable to attend may comment by calling (480) 358-3003.

Pinal County is issuing open burning permits again in portions of the county, according to officials.
A ban went into effect in April to reduce the risk of wildfire. Recent rainfall and high humidity levels have reduced fire risks in many areas.

Bans still exist in Apache Junction, Oracle and Queen Valley fire districts.
Some parts of northern Pinal County, including Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Gold Canyon and the Johnson Ranch area are not allowed to burn until after Oct. 1, based on state air quality restrictions.

For more information call the Pinal County Air Quality Division at 520-866-6929.

Hawes Road will be closed between Queen Creek and Ocotillo roads starting next week.
The closure will start at 5 a.m., Aug. 19 and is scheduled to be reopened at 3 p.m., Sept. 4.
The road is being closed for the completion of the Gilbert Central Arizona Project Waterline Project. Local traffic to the residential neighborhoods north of Ocotillo Road and west of Hawes Road will have access from Ocotillo Road only. Local access will not be maintained from the north. Traffic traveling on Rittenhouse Road will still be able to access Queen Creek Road to travel west during the closure.
For more information call the Queen Creek Traffic Hotline at (480) 358-3132 or e-mail  traffic at queencreek.org.

Here’s a list of traffic alerts from Queen Creek for Aug. 14-21:

1. Hawes Road @ Queen Creek & Ocotillo roads: Hawes Road may be closed from Tuesday, Aug. 20 to Thursday, Sept. 4 as crews continue to work on the Gilbert CAP Waterline project. Traffic will not be able to access Queen Creek Road from Ocotillo Road or the neighborhoods south of Queen Creek Road. Access to Queen Creek Road will be maintained from Rittenhouse Road during the closure.
2. Ocotillo Road - Ellsworth Loop to Hawes roads: Ocotillo Road construction continues and traffic remains shifted onto the south side of the street as crews continue operations to widen the north half of the street.
3. Queen Creek & Crismon roads: Westbound traffic just west of Crismon Road will be shifted south for a short distance as crews finish up work on this segment of the Gilbert CAP Waterline.
4. Ellsworth Loop & N. Rittenhouse roads: Crews will have the northbound and southbound right lanes closed while work is occurring on the shoulders.
5. Ellsworth Loop & Queen Creek roads: Crews will have the northbound right lane closed to complete work on a manhole just south of Queen Creek Road. During the day, expect both the right and center lanes to be closed for several hours while crews access a manhole in the intersection.
6. Cloud Road - Ellsworth to Crismon roads: Crews continue to work on the new sewer line installation on Cloud Road. Drivers should expect to encounter flaggers and/or off-duty police officers controlling traffic during working hours. Traffic will be shifted to the south during nonworking hours.
7. Ellsworth Road - Cloud to Chandler Heights roads: Crews continue work on Ellsworth Road to complete the widening of Ellsworth Road. Drivers should expect lane shifts as well as flaggers and off-duty police officers controlling traffic.

The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the opening of two Queen Creek businesses soon. Here’s the information on two ribbon-cutting ceremonies in town:

Grand Opening - Sport Chalet - 8:30 a.m., Aug. 15
Sport Chalet will have their grand opening celebration at 8:30 a.m., Aug. 15. About 20 minutes prior to the ceremony a tour of the new store will be given along with free refreshments. The store is located in the Queen Creek Marketplace at the corner of Ellsworth Loop Rd. and Victoria Lane. For more information call the Chamber at (480) 888-1709.

Grand Opening - Hickory Ridge - 11 a.m., Aug. 16
Hickory Ridge BBQ will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m., Aug. 16. For more information call (480) 888-1709.

The public comment period for the installation of a new 69,000 volt electrical line route through Queen Creek is ending.

The public comment period ends Aug. 17.

Open houses were held by the Salt River Project on June 5 and July 17 to provide information about the power needs of Queen Creek and gather feedback on possible route options for the new high-voltage line. Based on the input SRP has proposed four routes.

Residents can give feedback about a route preference by sending an e-mail to SRP at 69kv@srpnet.com or by fax at (602) 236-2003. An announcement regarding the final route is expected in mid-September.

Queen Creek’s regularly scheduled Town Council meeting on Aug. 20 has been canceled.
The Town Council will meet in a special meeting Aug. 27 instead.
For more information or to view council agendas as they become available visit www.queencreek.org or call (480) 358-3000.