Construction work started the past two weeks surrounding the ‘Y’ intersection, both south on Hwy. 179 and on Hwy. 89A towards West Sedona.
What was once a narrow two-lane roadway with open roadside ditches will become a highway with sidewalks, curb and gutter, storm drain system, wider paved shoulders, landscaping, additional turning lanes and accommodations for bicycles.
It is imperative for the community to understand that this is a major construction project. No significant improvements have been done on this road for almost 25 years.
Construction work started the past two weeks surrounding the ‘Y’ intersection, both south on Hwy. 179 and on Hwy. 89A towards West Sedona.
What was once a narrow two-lane roadway with open roadside ditches will become a highway with sidewalks, curb and gutter, storm drain system, wider paved shoulders, landscaping, additional turning lanes and accommodations for bicycles.
It is imperative for the community to understand that this is a major construction project. No significant improvements have been done on this road for almost 25 years.
The portion of Hwy. 89A under construction entails establishing an entirely new grade. Many people have commented on the height of the temporary driveway at the U.S. Post Office west of the ‘Y’ intersection.
The roadway will also be elevated to that height to facilitate these improvements, which include roundabouts being built at the intersection of Brewer Road and Hwy. 89A and at the ‘Y’ intersection.
To do all of this work, starting with utilities and storm drains at the side of the roads, travel lanes had to be removed to give the workers as safe of a working environment as possible.
It is not possible financially or time-wise to continually move lane barriers. Travel lanes have been closed for the safety of the construction workers and can not be changed on an hourly or daily basis, even if no work is occurring at that exact spot at a specific time.
Arizona Department of Transportation understands the frustrations and inconveniences with slower travel times. Traffic is dense because of the slower speeds but it is moving. Please allow for extra time to get from the Village of Oak Creek to ‘Y’ intersection locations in-between and from West Sedona to the ‘Y’ intersection.
It may take an additional five to 30 minutes based on travel times before construction began.
The Arizona Department of Transportation remains committed to keeping travel moving in both directions and business access open. For the safety of the construction workers and the traveling public, speeds must be lowered, which causes additional travel time.
ADOT worked intensively with the Greater Sedona community to plan and design improvements to Hwy. 179. The central goal of the project was to develop a transportation corridor that addresses safety, mobility and preservation of scenic, aesthetics, historic, environmental and other community values and to reach consensus on the planning, design and construction of Hwy. 179. A collaborative community-based process was conducted between August 2003 and Roadway Begins to Take Shape South of Business District
ADOT will host its monthly Construction Chat at 7 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Sedona-Oak Creek School District Board Room, 221 Brewer Road, Sedona.
“With Project 2 beginning and most of the activity being in the city of Sedona, we wanted to move Construction Chat to a more convenient location for Sedona residents and businesses,” said Carl Burkhalter, ADOT project manager for the Hwy. 179 Improvement Project, said.
Construction Chat is an open house format. For more information, call 284-2503 or visit www.scenic179.com.
