Under the glow of work lights on a January night in 2019, cranes hoisted the first 82-foot steel girder into place for what would become Maricopa’s first railroad overpass. The overnight installation marked a turning point in a project years in the making, creating the backbone of the bridge that now carries State Route 347 traffic over the Union Pacific Railroad and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. 

The journey began long before construction. In July 2012, the Arizona Department of Transportation invited residents to review plans for a crossing designed to ease congestion and improve safety at one of the city’s busiest intersections. ADOT approved funding in 2014, clearing the way for construction. 

Demolition began in March 2018 as homes and businesses, including the former Copa Center and Spoons diner, were cleared to make room for the overpass. By May 2019, city leaders toured the nearly completed bridge, and two months later residents walked, biked and scooted across it before it officially opened to traffic. 

Today, the John Wayne Parkway overpass is both a transportation landmark and a gateway to the Heritage District. Last month, the city added programmable LED lighting beneath the bridge, giving the underpass a colorful new role while honoring Maricopa’s railroad heritage.