Bell Road (Phoenix Metro)

Bell Road
The Scottsdale Spire, located in the southeast corner of Bell and Scottsdale Roads in Scottsdale, Arizona, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
NamesakeHarvey Bell
TypeArterial street
OwnerMaricopa County and the cities of Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Phoenix, and Scottsdale
Length34.6 mi (55.7 km)[1]
1.4 mi (2.25 km) gap in Scottsdale[1]
LocationPhoenix metropolitan area
West endSun Valley Parkway in Surprise
33°38′18″N 112°27′36″W / 33.63833°N 112.46000°W / 33.63833; -112.46000
East endMcDowell Mountain Ranch Road in Scottsdale
33°38′20″N 111°50′40″W / 33.63889°N 111.84444°W / 33.63889; -111.84444
NorthUnion Hills Drive (18600 North)
SouthGreenway Road (15400 North)
Construction
Completionmid-1970s (present alignment)[2]

Bell Road is a major east-west arterial road in the northern Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area.[3] It is one of the few roadways to cross the Agua Fria River in the northwestern part of the metro area, providing a vital link between the growing suburb of Surprise with Phoenix. As a result, the portion of Bell Road passing through Surprise and Sun City is the busiest arterial road in the state of Arizona.[4]

The road is named for farmer Harvey Bell, who, together with James Shea, formed in 1916 the Paradise Verde Irrigation District.[5][6]

Route description

The street lies at the 17000 North alignment of the Maricopa County grid system.[7] At its eastern terminus, the main segment of Bell Road, approximately 31 miles (50 km) in length, begins at the corporate boundaries of Phoenix and Scottsdale at its intersection with Scottsdale Road. Traveling west, the road intersects State Route 51 and Interstate 17 in Phoenix, the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in Peoria, and Grand Avenue and Loop 303 in Surprise. West of the Beardsley Canal, the roadway curves around the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, becoming the Sun Valley Parkway.

East of 66th Street, Bell Road takes a southeasterly bend and, at its intersection with Scottsdale Road, becomes Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, named in recognition of the architect and designer. This alignment was built in the mid-1970s during the construction of the CAP canal, which Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard parallels.[2] In this area of Scottsdale, a non-contiguous segment of Bell Road approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long exists north of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, including an intersection with the Pima Freeway (Loop 101).

East of the McDowell Mountains, the Bell Road alignment forms the northern boundary of the city of Fountain Hills.

Prominent locations on or near Bell Road include Scottsdale Airport, Turf Paradise Race Course, Arrowhead Towne Center and the Peoria Sports Complex. Bell Road also forms the northern boundary of the original town site of Surprise.[8]

Major intersections

The entire road is in Maricopa County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Surprise0.000.00Sun Valley Parkway westContinuation beyond western end
McMicken Dam; western end of Bell Rd.
2.504.02 Loop 303 (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway)SPUI; exit 116 on Loop 303
6.4010.30 US 60 (Grand Avenue)Interchange
Peoria–Glendale line12.9020.76 Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway)SPUI; exit 14 on Loop 101
Phoenix19.9032.03 I-17 (Black Canyon Freeway) – Tucson, FlagstaffDiamond interchange with service roads; exit 212 on I-17
26.4042.49 SR 51SPUI; exit 13 on SR 51
30.9049.73Scottsdale Road / Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard eastRoad name transitions to Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Gap in route; connection made via 1.4 miles (2.25 km) of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Greenway–Hayden Loop[1]
Scottsdale0.000.00Hayden Road north / Greenway-Hayden Loop south
1.001.61 Loop 101 (Pima Freeway)Exit 38 on Loop 101; indirect northbound access via service roads
3.705.95McDowell Mountain Ranch Road southContinuation beyond eastern end
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bell Road" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "NETR Online • Historic Aerials". Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  3. ^ "DREADFUL BELL GROWTH TAKES ITS TOLL ON N. VALLEY'S MAIN ARTERY". Arizona Republic. Gannett Co. January 30, 2005. p. A.1.
  4. ^ Turner, Erin (December 15, 2009). "Homeowners offer mixed reactions to El Mirage Road addition". Your West Valley News. Your West Valley News. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Thompson, Clay (January 10, 2007). "VALLEY ROADS: HOW THEY GOT THEIR NAMES". Arizona Republic. Gannett Co. p. B.12.
  6. ^ North-Hager, Eddie (January 3, 2001). "WEST BELL: TRAFFIC MAGNET MORE DEVELOPMENT WILL ONLY WORSEN JAMS". Arizona Republic. Gannett Co. p. 1 (Sun Cities/Surprise Community section).
  7. ^ Miner, Carrie (2007). Off the Beaten Path: Arizona (6th ed.). GPP Travel. p. 101. ISBN 978-0762741953.
  8. ^ "Surprise Original Town Site" (PDF). City of Surprise.