Bend to the Beach Road Initiative

IMPORTANT:  PLEASE READ AND SIGN THE PETIION IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY A TOLL.  OUR GOAL IS TO GET 500 SIGNATURES BY AUGUST 1ST.  THANK YOU.

There was another head-on collision a few weeks ago on the 85 between Gilo Bend and Ajo. This is happening too often and there have been many fatalities over the years.

People speed in a hurry to get to Rocky Point or to make the border in time. As well, there are often very slow vehicles  causing a back up and then drivers try and pass multiple cars at once.   So….it’s time to raise our concerns and propose that something be done about this.  

A group of us are working with Apex Integrations (MX) putting together a summary on enhancing roadway safety which will be a comprehensive analysis of 2-Lane to 4-Lane Passing Lane installations.  This research will include information on costs, distance and length of passing lanes, number of needed passing lanes, and how they significantly reduce the number of accidents on 2 lane highways.

We will be presenting a US and MX project that will be called the “Bend to the Beach” Road Initiative between Gila Bend (US) and the Border Rocky Point (MX) 

We are proposing construction of Passing Lanes. We feel this could be funded by a $5 to $10 toll per car on this stretch down to Rocky Point.  As well, much like "adopt-a-highway" projects, offer sponsorship from Rocky Point resorts and businesses to "adopt a
passing-lane" as another way to help to fund this. Road signs will be installed that recognize the business that sponsors a particular passing zone. In our proposal we would suggest a 3rd party to collect and administer the funding for this project as well as longer hours for the Border to be open on Fridays and Sundays. 

Passing lanes have been added on multiple roads in the statesand have significantly reduced head on collisions and deaths due to car accidents. Additionally a project like this would provide jobs. 

                                              The Role of Passing Lanes on Two-Lane Highways

Passing lanes are shorter, intermittent segments of added lanes, typically provided in one or both on conventional two-lane highways. Their primary function is to create safe passing opportunities without requiring drivers to enter the lane normally reserved for opposing traffic. This directly mitigates the risk of head-on and sideswipe conflicts associated with overtaking maneuvers on undivided two-lane roads.

Beyond safety, passing lanes offer substantial operational benefits. They have been shown to increase average travel speed by as much as 8% to 11% within the passing lane itself, with these speed benefits extending for approximately 2 miles downstream.

Crucially, passing lanes significantly reduce the percent time spent by 58% to 62%, depending on traffic volume. This reduction in platooning improves overall traffic flow and reduces delays caused by slower-moving vehicles, which in turn diminishes driver impatience and the propensity for risky overtaking. By providing assured passing opportunities, these lanes directly address a common cause of severe accidents on two-lane roads, making them a cost-effective countermeasure, especially when full four-lane conversion is not economically feasible.