Thanks to our Coconino County voters, spring will be a busy construction season for the County with $5.8 million in Roads Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and chip sealing projects scheduled to begin. These projects, scheduled to begin in the next few weeks, will address deteriorating pavement and improve the safety of our county roads.
The reason for this increase in road maintenance projects? Proposition 403, the County’s Road Maintenance Ballot Measure that was approved last November by almost 65 percent of county voters. The 3/10 of one cent sales tax went into effect on Jan. 1.
These much-needed road improvements are great news for county residents who rely on our roads to get to work, getting their kids to school and to recreate in Northern Arizona. In addition to capital projects, Proposition 403 is also providing the funding necessary to help sustain current levels of county road maintenance services such as snow plowing, road drainage upkeep and dirt road grading.
Months before Election Day in 2014, our Public Works Department prepared a 10 Year Roads CIP to address deteriorating pavement and improve the safety of county roads, contingent upon the passage of Proposition 403. Now, the following three CIP projects are getting underway and slated for completion by mid-summer:
Koch Field Road Pavement Preservation Project
In addition to pavement improvements to Koch Field Road between Silver Saddle Road and Townsend-Winona Road, the Koch Field Road Pavement Preservation Project will widen shoulders for multimodal use and improve localized drainage along the roadway. The project is estimated to cost $1.1 million.
Pinewood Boulevard Reconstruction Project
The Pinewood Boulevard Pavement Preservation Project includes a new base and asphalt overlay for the roadway for just over one mile of Pinewood Boulevard from I-17 to the Munds Wash Bridge. In addition, concrete curbs will be replaced in the commercial area. The project is estimated to cost $1.8 million.
Munds Wash Bridge Repair Project
The Munds Wash Bridge Repair Project involves replacement of the bridge deck and existing railing and the addition of a guardrail on the approach side of the bridge. The project is estimated to cost $425,000.
The passage of Prop. 403 also allows the county to resume chip seal maintenance on paved county roads. Chip seal paving is done as preventative maintenance for the asphalt. This spring, the county is investing more than $1.7 million to chip seal more than 47 miles of roads in Blue Ridge, Doney Park and the Greater Bellemont/Parks areas.
As many of you recall, the tagline for Prop. 403 was “Your Roads. Your Decision.” The successful passage of this measure on Election Day showed how much our roads are valued by our residents. Just five months later, now that spring has arrived, Coconino County is keeping our promise to our voters to improve your roads. And we’re just getting started. FBN
By Cynthia Seelhammer
Cynthia Seelhammer is a Flagstaff resident and serves as Coconino County manager.
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