There were times it seemed as if the work would never be complete, but there it is – a “new and improved” Saguaro Boulevard is wide open and all four lanes are flowing rather smoothly.

Many of us grappled with the widening work at Shea and Saguaro boulevards (a separate project), and then in February work started on the all-encompassing Saguaro project.

Meanwhile, in a matter of weeks, the town spent more than $1 million on major road work to such streets as Fayette, Glenbrook, El Pueblo and Grande.

That will be it until next year, because the town spent all the road money it has allocated for this fiscal year, which started July 1.

Unfortunately, much street work remains to be done. Yes, the town has put together a pavement management plan, but it has been stretched out too many years and with too little work because of budget constraints. Voters approved more than $7 million in bonds for Saguaro Blvd., but are they willing to sustain ongoing major maintenance or another big street project in the next couple of years?

Town leaders will have to sort that out within the next year or so. We have some great new streets in town, but there are miles and miles of other pavement out there in desperate need of minor and major maintenance. This would be considered a “need to have” and not a “want to have.”