Arizona Department of Transportation SR 179 Improvement Project
(800) 529-2876 www.scenic179.com pr@scenic179.com

Welcome to the State Route (SR) 179 Project Weekly Construction Update - your electronic connection to the SR 179 Project with the most current information on construction plans and activities.

Please note:  Changes to construction plans can happen frequently due to weather, equipment availability and personnel issues. We try to anticipate construction activities a week in advance but changes may occur. Intermittent lane closures, with short delays, may not always be known in advance.

What to Watch for Week of March 19

What's New on SR 179

The Jack’s Canyon Road intersection has been re-opened. Drivers should use caution approaching the intersection of Jacks Canyon and SR 179 due to a change in traffic signal operation. The signal is no longer set to flashing red but is now set to a standard red, yellow, green sequence. Cortez Road will be closed for approximately three weeks.

Ongoing Work on SR 179

Construction of a retaining wall is ongoing south of the Village of Oak Creek where traffic has been shifted westward onto temporary pavement. There may be minor traffic impacts such as shoulder closures or construction vehicles needing access to the road, or lane closures of short durations with flaggers/DPS present.

Storm drain work throughout Project 1 is ongoing. Business access will be maintained, although intermittent driveway closures are necessary. The closures are minimized and expedited to the extent possible. Temporary concrete barrier is installed to help traffic flow, and blue business access signs are installed to guide traffic through the construction zone. There may be minor traffic impacts such as shoulder closures or construction vehicles needing access to the road, or lane closures with flaggers/DPS present.

Work for new bridge construction in the forest segment is ongoing near milepost 309.5, and there may be short duration flagging operations. The HT Trail will be closed until Spring 2007.

Project 2 Utility Work

Back O’ Beyond to Copper Cliffs (APS, Qwest and Cable Vision)
PS trenching crews are working at the Juniper and Arrow Drive intersections and the electrical crews are working between Morgan Road and Copper Cliffs Drive. Their crews will continue to work in the corridor until approximately the end of April 2007. The public can expect to see APS, Qwest and Cable Vision crews and their contractor adjacent to the roadway in this area.

Canyon to the Y ( Arizona Water)
Arizona Water Company will be installing a new 16" water line between Canyon Drive and the Y (SR 179/89A). Their contractor has started potholing and blue-staking along the project limits and will begin underground work March 26. At the request of Arizona Water, ADOT right-of-way crews will begin staking the existing right-of-way on the west side of SR 179 between Canyon Drive and the Y on March 19th. The new water line installation is scheduled to be completed by mid July. The public can expect to see Arizona Water crews and their contractor adjacent to and in the roadway in this area.

Hillside to Exposures Gallery (NPG Cable)
NPG Cable will be trenching on the west side of SR 179 across from Hillside's south driveway to the Exposures Gallery. The work will require a lane shift of the southbound and northbound traffic. NPG has contacted the adjacent businesses (including Inn on Oak Creek and Hillside management) to provide notice of this work. This work has been extended due to heavy rock and will be completed by March 23.

Painted Canyon to Arrow/Morgan (Unisource)
Unisource will be installing a new 6 inch gas line on the east side of SR 179 between Painted Canyon and Arrow/Morgan. They have received their permit from ADOT and will begin work on March 26th.

SR 179 Communications

ADOT hosts Construction Chat on the first Thursday of each month from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. at the SR 179 Project Office in Bell Rock Plaza. The next Construction Chat will be Thursday, April 5.