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.

For a complete listing of freeway and highway restrictions across Arizona visit ADOT's Travel Information Site at www.az511.com or call 5-1-1.

What to watch for the week of June 11:

Jack's Canyon Road is closed for two more weeks due to coordination issues between the County project and SR 179 project. A detour using Cortez is clearly identified. Work began on Verde Valley School Road on June 4. There are daily restrictions but no full closure. Temporary message boards and signage is in place to assist motorists.

Temporary striping in the Village of Oak Creek is scheduled for Monday, June 11. The left turn lanes on SR 179 at Bell Rock Boulevard are going to be removed. The signal will be reprogrammed to function in the same manner as Jacks Canyon.

Scenic Pullouts

Red Rock Scenic Vista

Two new scenic pullouts are being constructed and two existing scenic pullouts are being improved during Project 1 of the SR 179 improvement project.

The two existing pullouts that are being improved are Bell Rock Vista and Little Horse Trailhead, and the two new ones will be called Yavapai Point and Red Rock Vista. The new scenic pullouts have spectacular panoramic views due to their elevation.

There will be 20 to 30 car/bus parking spaces at each pullout, nearly tripling the current pullout capacity. Signage will clearly designate the pullouts, reducing the need for tourists to stop along the side of the road.

Because of the care being taken in these areas during construction, existing vegetation is being saved and minimal new landscaping will be needed at the scenic pullouts.

Yavapai Point will be open to the public this fall when traffic is switched onto the new northbound alignment through the Forest Service.

Ongoing Work on SR 179

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 closure will be extended to mid-summer. Information will be provided as it becomes available.

Indian Cliffs Road is closed, with detours identified for motorists, due to storm drain work. The closure is extended by two additional weeks to accommodate some utility work by Qwest.

Project 2 Utility Work

Evening Lane Closures Continue
Arizona Water Company's Contractor (Tiffany Construction) will be working Monday through Thursday nights between Schnebly Hill Road and Ranger Road. The night time work will require closure of the northbound lane, with traffic in both directions being directed by flag crews at all times. Tiffany's nighttime work hours are 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. The week of June 11, Tiffany will work day and night crews to complete water line installation at Schnebly near Garlands.

APS Trenching
APS trenching crews are finished between Back O' Beyond and Highland Road, except for clean up and pulling of new wire south of Chapel Road. Crews also are working on Schnebly Hill Road, Portal and Ranger with some night work as necessary.

Juniper to Morgan
UniSource's contractor is continuing to trench from Morgan Road toward Painted Canyon to install the new 6" gas line. This work is scheduled to be completed in 2 weeks.