Some residents have expressed confusion that the town just completed a nearly $1.5 million upgrade of the Avenue of the Fountains median (Plaza) only to leave the fountain at the Saguaro Boulevard intersection dry and wrapped in chain link fencing.

The reason for the delay in doing anything with that end of the plaza is that an extension of the median area and construction of a new fountain is part of the Saguaro Boulevard reconstruction project.

In an effort to improved pedestrian safety when crossing the intersection, the medians on Saguaro and the Avenue are being extended to encompass crosswalks as safety islands for those crossing the street.

On the Avenue the plaza will be extended to roughly the same curb alignment as the west side of Saguaro.

A new fountain will be constructed similar to the one at Verde River Drive, but with three pools.

According to Development Services Director Paul Mood, the contractor’s latest construction schedule calls for work on the plaza area to begin in early June.