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Saguaro project making progress

Posted 7/29/15

With all traffic switched over to the southbound lanes, Nesbitt Contracting and the Town of Fountain Hills are expecting smooth sailing for the remainder of the Saguaro Boulevard reconstruction …

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Saguaro project making progress

Posted

With all traffic switched over to the southbound lanes, Nesbitt Contracting and the Town of Fountain Hills are expecting smooth sailing for the remainder of the Saguaro Boulevard reconstruction project.

Although there are just three months remaining on the nine-month construction calendar, town Development Services Director Paul Mood notes that the remainder of the work is all paving related with underground drainage completed.

“The remaining work will go much faster,” Mood said.

Mood said that barring significant weather issues or encountering unknown utilities, Nesbitt should have no trouble meeting the deadline.

Working north to south the work will be done in three sections – Fountain Hills Boulevard to El Lago Boulevard, El Lago to Malta Drive and then on to Trevino Drive.

The project calls for the old asphalt to be removed along with any previous base material and the road bed taken down to about 12 inches.

The old asphalt is being ground on the site to be returned as a portion of the new base material. An initial new layer of asphalt 1.5 inches thick will be then put in place.

The southbound lanes are completed to that stage at this time with the first coat of new pavement. An additional 1.5 inches of asphalt will be the finish coat. That will be done on both sides around the second and third week in October, according to Mood.

The last week in October the contractor will be working to raise water valves and manhole covers and striping the pavement.

Nesbitt has asked for and been granted permission to work Saturdays during the final 90 days of the project. Mood said he believes that work will be limited to milling and grading.

“They won’t do work that needs to be inspected on the weekend,” Mood said.

The new traffic signals at Saguaro and Palisades/Panorama were installed last week.

New street lighting is being installed at Saguaro and Avenue of the Fountains to improve pedestrian safety.

Also improving pedestrian safety is the extension of median curbs and crossing cutouts at Saguaro and the Avenue.

Work is currently being done on the new fountain on the Avenue at Saguaro, but that work is independent of the paving project.

Mood said he has heard from the Maricopa County Flood Control District that they are about to advertise for bids on the Ashbrook Wash crossing improvements.

“They believe construction on that project will begin early to mid-October,” Mood said.

That will create an additional period of crossover traffic over a short distance while that work is being done.

Mood said he expects to be showing the council the proposal for the annual pavement management program in September. He said that would include mill and overlay work near McDowell Mountain Elementary and Fountain Hills Charter schools during fall break.

Residents can get information regarding the Saguaro project by following on the website at www.saguaroblvd.com.