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.

Traffic Notices for the week of August 20:

• SR 179 will close and traffic will be detoured using Cortez for one to four nights this week north of Jack’s Canyon Road.  Crews will be installing inlet pipes that cross under the road to direct storm water from the west side of the road into the new storm drain system on the east side.
  
  
• The new driveway and curb/gutter installation at Navajo Road has been pushed to this week on the east side of SR 179.  This should take approximately one week.
  
  
• The new driveway installations at the Blue Moon Café and ACE Hardware in the Village have been pushed to this week, and the Circle K driveway installation is now scheduled for the week of August 27. Access to businesses will be maintained.  Each driveway takes about one week to form, pour, and set.
  


• Watch for blue signs to guide you to businesses.



• Two-way traffic is being maintained.

Utility Work Continues

Utilities are currently working within City of Sedona limits (Back O’ Beyond to the “Y”) to prepare for the roadway improvements.  Some night work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. may require shifting of traffic lanes.  Traffic will be maintained in both directions and directed by flag crews at all times.

Special Update on Vegetation

Throughout the planning, design, and construction of improvements to SR 179, the project Agency Stakeholders (Federal Highway Administration, ADOT, Coconino National Forest, Yavapai County, Coconino County, City of Sedona, and Big Park Regional Coordinating Council) have specifically committed to minimizing the loss and replacement of all vegetation along the SR 179 corridor.

On Project 1, several native trees have been salvaged and will be relocated within the Forest.  Yavapai County and the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council have applied for, and received, a federal grant to landscape the non-forest service sections within the Village.

For Project 2, the City of Sedona has applied for grants and incorporated their own funds to landscape portions of the new roadway (the Business District and roundabouts), with provisions to complete the rest as funding becomes available.

The area of the Oak Creek streambed and channel that will be disturbed by bridge and wall construction will be mitigated by a plan approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Army Corps of Engineers.

• Less than ten large (> 18”) diameter sycamore trees will be removed by road and bridge construction.
  
  
• None of the large sycamores within the Tlaquepaque parking lot or within their wall will be removed.
  
  
• ADOT has also consulted with a Certified Arborist on how to protect the root systems of the trees that are to remain in place to minimize stress to those trees.

Progress You Can See on SR 179

The number of crews has more than doubled on concrete work for items such as curb, gutter, and sidewalks. In addition, the work week is being increased to continue the momentum of progress.  Crews are likely to work six or maybe seven days a week to speed progress.

When completed, SR 179 will have clean edges, and the travel lanes will be separated for a safer, more relaxing driving experience.

The final preparations for paving are underway, including final grading and the application of a base layer, which looks similar to gray gravel, and on top of which the paving is applied.  Paving crews will be on site as early as the end of this week.

The start of paving is a major milestone for the project.  Once the east side of the road is paved, traffic will be switched to the east side and work will commence on the west side.

The Bell Rock bridge deck will be poured this week in the forest section.  Both new bridges are scheduled to be complete in late September.

Project 2

Project 2 starts at Back O Beyond and proceeds to the “Y” intersection of SR 179 and SR 89A.  Project 2 has advertised for construction, and bids are due in September.

Road improvement work should start on Project 2 in early 2008.