Light rail construction begins soon in Mesa

MESA, AZ - Construction begins in just a few months to extend the light rail further into downtown Mesa.

The East Valley Tribune says the work includes three years of construction and buying up 117 partial or entire parcels along the route.

The rail line will impact about 13 properties where buildings are close to the street requiring the city to remove all or part of the buildings.

The first construction will relocate utilities that are under the future track including moving nine manholes that connect with a pipe 20 feet underground. The work requires closing one side of Main Street.

Mesa officials say they plan to concentrate some of the most disruptive work in the summer months in the mile-long downtown area because business usually is slower then.