We mentioned this back in January, but it bears repeating in light of continued road construction around town – slow down and relax.

The big talk around town has been the nice weather and the prevalent street construction on Saguaro Blvd. as well as the Shea-Saguaro intersection.

The Shea Blvd. work has just been extended a bit because some sub-grade replacement is needed, but that project will be done this summer. The Saguaro Blvd. work is going to take longer, so we might as well accept the fact it’s going to be around a while.

Utility work and pavement replacement is now in full swing on Saguaro Blvd. This work stretches from Fountain Hills Blvd. all the way through town toward Shea Blvd.

So we have a couple of suggestions. For commuters, we suggest maybe taking an alternative route – Fountain Hills or Palisades boulevards. Leave the house five minutes earlier. Take the express bus. Obey the lowered speed limits. Expect back-ups in traffic. Be considerate of the construction workers. Be mindful of your fellow motorists. Relax.

Of course, for our local merchants and restaurateurs along Saguaro Blvd., the coming summer months and the ongoing street construction will make it more difficult for them to attract regular and new customers.

We urge residents not to forget these places of businesses the next several months. It is possible to navigate Saguaro Blvd. during construction; it just might take a while longer or be a bit more inconvenient. Fountain Hills is still open for business – even during construction!