After more than two years of construction, the Gilbert Road Bridge is open.

Funded by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the city of Mesa, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Salt River Project and the Maricopa County Department of Transportation Highway User Revenue Fund, the bridge was given a ceremonial opening on February 28. 

The bridge opened to traffic a few weeks prior, and remained open during the ceremony which saw guest speakers from the SRPMIC Council, Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Mesa. 

Before the ceremony began, SRPMIC Council member Michael Dallas Sr. provided a prayer that included a blessing for all the workers and staff that helped complete the bridge. 

Afterwards, SRPMIC Council member Deanna Scabby provided a brief history of the bridge, which was originally built in 1990. 

“I remember before I was a Council member, I’d sit in the audience and listen to former [SRPMIC] President Ivan Makil and their Council as they spoke and what was going to happen for the future. This was in the late 90’s. From that time until now, it’s taken this long to get done,” she said. 

Scabby continued to detail the bridge’s origins, noting that in 2017, the design concept for the Gilbert Road Bridge was presented to Community. “Then, in November of 2022, the construction began,” Scabby stated. 

She continued, saying that while plans were still being developed between 2017 and 2022, representatives from MAG and MCDOT visited with Community seniors to listen to how they wanted the bridge to be built. “I really appreciated that,” she said.

Following her remarks, Chairman Thomas Galvin, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2, visited the lectern and addressed all in attendance. “Today, is an extraordinary day for our entire region, it is a day that symbolizes progress, partnership, and prosperity,” he said. 

Later, newly elected Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman spoke a few words as he looks towards the future. “It’s important that this bridge stands the testament of time, and I appreciate the foundation of it,” he stated. 

Before the renovation, the original Gilbert Road Bridge was frequently damaged when heavy rainfall and flooding impacted the area, resulting in massive closures and detours. “Whenever the floods come, this bridge will still be here for perpetuity,” said Freeman, proudly.

The newly redeveloped bridge includes two additional lanes for each direction, a new street signal at the intersection at nearby Thomas Road, a new storm drain, improved roads to and from the bridge and a new 36-inch waterline to continue Salt River Project’s water delivery system. 

Nearing the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the SRPMIC group, Birds Singing and Dancing by the River, performed. Attendees to the opening ceremony were given stickers commemorating the bridge’s official opening, as well as additional commemorative items, which included sugar cookies with a traditional basket design etched in icing. 

The 1,500-foot-long Gilbert Road Bridge is located south of the Salt River Landfill, between State Route 87 (Beeline Highway) and the Loop 202 Freeway. According to the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, the Gilbert Road Bridge is expected to carry 30,000 vehicles per day by 2035. In 2019, about 13,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily.