Gila Herald Staff Reports
DUNCAN — U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) joined Duncan Mayor Alex Blake and local town leadership to announce $1.7 million in preliminarily secured federal funding targeted at resolving severe recurring flooding and pedestrian hazards along East Avenue.
The project focuses on a 2,400-linear-foot stretch of East Avenue located immediately south of U.S. Highway 70. During major storm events, stormwater runoff along the critical local corridor frequently reaches depths of three feet or more, damaging adjacent properties, deteriorating the roadway, and creating hazardous barriers for vehicles, pedestrians, and emergency response vehicles.
“The residents of Duncan have long experienced the harmful effects of frequent flooding along the town’s East Avenue, which has damaged properties and infrastructure, while also limiting pedestrian and vehicular access,” Ciscomani said. “My top priority in Congress is to deliver real results to Arizona’s 6th District, ensuring our communities have the federal resources they need to thrive. I am grateful to have met with Mayor Blake to hear firsthand how these improvements will benefit this resilient town.”
The proposed infrastructure project will completely reconstruct roughly 2,400 feet of the roadway while constructing dedicated stormwater drainage systems and upgraded pedestrian walkways.
Mayor Blake commended the federal partnership, pointing to the immediate impact the improvements will bring to Greenlee County residents once signed into law.
“East Avenue is a vital roadway that is in desperate need of flood mitigation, drainage infrastructure, and surface improvements to ensure the safety of homeowners, vehicles, and pedestrians,” Blake said. “I, along with the rest of our town leadership, am extremely grateful for the congressman’s work to bring this much-needed funding back to our community.”
Ciscomani, who serves as the sole Arizona delegation member on the House Appropriations Committee, noted that the Duncan project is part of a broader $42.7 million package preliminarily secured across 20 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the current appropriations cycle.
