An Archaeological Survey of the City of Mesa South Canal Shared Use Path in Mesa, Arizona

Summary

The City of Mesa selected Dibble Engineering to provide engineering, design, and project management services for their South Canal Shared-Use Path project. This project will create a new 1.25-mile long and 10-foot wide shared use pathway for pedestrian, cyclist, and equestrian use along the east bank of the SRP South Canal. The new segment of shared use path will extend from just north of the Consolidated and Tempe Canals at the south end to McKellips Road at the north end (Figure 1).

Dibble Engineering hired EPG to provide environmental support for this project. As part of this effort, EPG was to identify and outline the environmental requirements, issues, and known possible effects associated with the project, including a cultural records review and a pedestrian archaeological survey for an area of potential effects (APE) that was determined in consultation with ADOT’s historic preservation team.

The purpose of the project is to improve an existing segment of two existing regional trail systems located along the South Canal and improve the connectivity between the City of Mesa and Maricopa County’s Sun Circle and Maricopa Trail systems. The project will also facilitate the crossing of two currently non-signalized mid-block crossings at Horne and McKellips Roads.

The environmental scope of work for this project includes:

 Installing a new 10-foot wide asphalt shared-use path, and an adjacent 6-foot wide softer-surface safety and erosion control buffer zone that may be used as an informal equestrian trail

 Installing mid block at-grade crossings with pedestrian activated crossing signals at Horne and McKellips Roads

 Installing new pedestrian lights

 Removing traffic signal, pole and foundation and installing new traffic signals

 Installing pedestrian and bicycle counters

 Removing pavement, that includes curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveways and installing new curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveways

 Installing nodes that will include limited comfort features such as benches and bicycle racks, landscape, and irrigation

 Removing a streetlight

 Relocating grates, as required

 Installing permanent signage, including wayfinding signs and temporary signage, as required

 Relocating or adjusting utilities, as required

A license agreement with SRP for recreational use of the east canal bank, a permanent pathway easement across city-owned land, and a permanent right-of-way from a private landowner are required. No detours of any existing connecting shared use pathways or sidewalks are anticipated.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Salt River Project Digital Library

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Daniel Garcia; Environmental Planning Group, LLC

Prepared By(s): City of Mesa; Arizona Department of Transportation

Record Identifiers

EPG Cultural Resources Technical Paper No.(s): 2020-9

File Information