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 Week of October 1

Traffic Switch in the Village of Oak Creek
Work to Begin on West Side of SR 179

This week traffic will be running on new pavement for nearly the entire length of the Village of Oak Creek.  Pedestrians also will have the benefit of sidewalks, which also are complete for nearly the entire length of the Village of Oak Creek on the east side of the road.
 
With traffic running on the east side of SR 179, work can commence on the west side.  During the week of September 24, ADOT representatives visited businesses along the west side of the road to let them know that work will be starting soon on the west side, that blue business access signs will be in place to guide motorists in and out of the businesses, and that work is scheduled to be substantially complete through the Village of Oak Creek late this fall.
 
ADOT is committed to working with businesses during construction, and thanks the community for their support and patience during the building of this beautiful All-American Road.  Diligent communication and coordination will continue with businesses throughout construction. 
 
Back O' Beyond Roundabout

Crews are preparing the roundabout at Back O Beyond to be open to traffic sometime the first week of October.  Part of the roundabout will be delineated with traffic barricades until the entire roundabout can be finished; however, it will fully function as a roundabout to provide all of the necessary turning movements at that intersection.  Indian Cliffs Road also will be reopened at this time.  Again, ADOT thanks the community in the vicinity of Indian Cliffs Road for their patience while traffic has been detoured.
 
Motorists should watch for new signs that will be in place to assist navigation through the roundabout.
 
Modern roundabouts were the community choice for controlling traffic intersections for the entire length of SR 179 based on their aesthetics, safety, and mobility features.  The first modern roundabout was built in the United States in the early 1990s. 
 
Roundabouts add a sense of character to a roadway, provide for free flowing traffic movement, and are statistically safer than intersections controlled by traffic signals.  Roundabouts represent a 75% decrease in crashes, and a 90% decrease in fatal crashes, and are becoming the intersection of choice in a number of communities throughout the United States.

Important note: the portion of the center island in the roundabout that was removed last week was due to defective materials, not incorrect design. ADOT inspects all aspects of the construction project and payment is not made until all materials are in place, tested and accepted. As was the case with the roundabout center island, the contractor must replace all defective materials at their own expense, not at the cost of the taxpayer.
 
Construction Communications

ADOT hosts Construction Chat on the first Thursday of each month from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Project Office located at Bell Rock Plaza in the Village of Oak Creek.  The purpose of the Construction Chat is to provide an open forum for the community to ask questions and receive information about the construction project.  The next Construction Chat will be held this Thursday, October 4.  ADOT will provide a brief presentation at 8:00 a.m.