The city of Sedona is addressing a safety issue near one of the area’s most popular tourists areas that will benefit both residents and visitors.
For years there has been a concern for pedestrians on Chapel Road, off of State Route 179. As home to Chapel of the Holy Cross, the road sees hundreds of vehicles a day and sometimes more during peak times of the year. Along with it comes pedestrians, not to mention residents who use the road for walking or biking.
The solution: A shared-use pathway.
“All projects are focused on reducing environmental and visitor traffic impacts, and preserving Sedona’s beauty and livability,” Associate Planner James Crawley said. “More recently the GO Sedona bike/walk planning work group identified the Chapel Road as a high priority connection.”
The Transportation Master Plan has identifies areas for both pedestrian and bicycle use, Crowley said.
“The new Chapel Road shared-use path will allow residents and visitors to safely walk, bike and exercise in a space protected from traffic,” he said. “This pathway will be a connection to the existing shared use path on State Route 179 that begins at Tlaquepaque and continues to Back ‘O Beyond Road.”
Safety and parking issues are the primary concerns the city has heard from residents regarding Chapel Road, he said. The Chapel of the Holy Cross continues to be high on visitors’ lists of places to visit in Sedona. This, along with the Mystic Trail trailhead on Chapel Road, has led to safety concerns with pedestrians not having a dedicated walkway and parking concerns along the road being unsafe for both locals and visitors alike, Crowley said.
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring of 2020 and will take about three months to complete. It carries a price tag of $620,000 and will go from State Route 179 to the Chapel of the Holy Cross property line.
No land acquisition will be needed to complete this pathway. However, there is a portion of Chapel Road that is located on U.S. Forest Service land. Crowley said in 2018 the USFS granted the city an easement for the road. The USFS will review and approve the improvements within the easement area.
