A final plan for the massive Grant Road widening project will go before mayor and council this Tuesday for approval.

The design was unveiled last Wednesday and will include one new travel lane in each direction between Oracle and Swan Roads along with improvements to the project’s intersections.

The project’s right-of-way acquisitions are expected to affect anywhere from 150 to 250 properties.

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An indirect left turn will be one of the most dramatic changes in the project. Rather than have a left-hand turn lane at each intersection, drivers will make a U-turn at a minor stoplight, followed by a right-hand turn. Project designers say this will reduce the wait time at intersections and be safer and more fuel efficient.

Among the small changes that were included because of public input include moving left-hand turn lanes and adding a bus pullout.

The $166 million Regional Transportation Authority project was approved by voters in May of 2006 and will be funded by a half-cent sales tax also given the go-ahead by voters.

Construction is expected to begin in 2013 and conclude in 2017.

Phase II of the project will deal with cut-through traffic, access and landscaping and will be addressed later this year.

The Grant Road project vote will be held in a public forum at 5:30 p.m. at 255 W. Alameda St. on Jan. 13.

Conatact report Nicholas Smith at 295-4238 or at nsmith@azbiz.com.