(Editor’s Note: This is the second installment of a series detailing the upcoming election and its two issues – Saguaro Blvd. reconstruction and school financing. Part two of the school series is below.)

 As one of the three main arterial streets off Shea Boulevard leading to the town’s interior, Saguaro Boulevard carries traffic from the east off the Beeline Highway to Fountain Park and the downtown area.

Saguaro Boulevard was built 40 years ago during Fountain Hills’ infancy and when there was no town government.

With the exception of some new bike and turn lanes, there has been no significant work done on the roadway since construction.

No improvements of consequence have been done since the town was incorporated in 1989.

In June 2012 an engineering firm was hired to evaluate the condition of the asphalt pavement and underlying base along Saguaro Boulevard and portions of Palisades and Fountain Hills boulevards.

Core samples were taken up to three feet deep in the travel and curb lanes of the roadway. The results indicate that the structure of the roadway was inadequate based on acceptable construction standards.

It was found that the pavement was generally one to two inches in thickness. Only with two of the 20 core samples taken along Saguaro was the pavement found to be three or more inches thick.

Core samples showed the underlying base supporting the asphalt was no more than four inches thick.

Engineering standards, according to town Development Services Director Paul Mood, would call for up to four inches of asphalt on a six-inch base for Saguaro Boulevard.

As a result, based on the core samples and the age and condition of the pavement, the engineering firm recommended reconstruction of the roadway with removal of the existing roadway and replacing it with new material.

Project scope

Earlier this year the Town Council approved a resolution calling for bond election to finance $8.2 million to reconstruct Saguaro Boulevard to the recommended standards.

Mood has outlined a project that would remove and replace all the old roadway and underlying soil to 10 inches deep.

It would be replaced with six inches of approved base material and four inches of asphalt pavement.

The scope of the project would extend about four miles from just north of Shea Boulevard to Fountain Hills Boulevard.

The roadway would retain two traffic lanes in each direction with the raised landscaped median.

Where needed, curbing would be removed and replaced to meet standards consistent to maintaining an extended life for the roadway.

There are no new sidewalks planned to be added, however, any existing walkways that do not meet requirements for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would be replaced.

There are portions of Saguaro Boulevard that are prone to significant flooding during heavy winter rains and summer monsoon storms.

In particular, these areas include the downtown between Palisades and El Lago boulevards and toward the south end of the project where Saguaro Boulevard abuts the Desert Canyon Golf Club.

Mood said improvements would be designed to alleviate flooding in those locations.

An ongoing concern for town officials for some time has been how to make adjustments at the intersection of Saguaro Boulevard and Avenue of the Fountains to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow in that downtown area.

A range of options that includes a round-about were considered, and it was found the round-about idea is extremely unpopular with the public.

Determined not to raise the ire of voters who will decide the fate of the project funding, the council accepted a staff proposal to modify the existing three-way stop configuration at the intersection.

Changes would constrict the traffic lanes somewhat to reduce pedestrian exposure and extend medians to provide safe zones in the crossings.

The overall project will include replacement of the traffic signals at Saguaro and Palisades Boulevard.

This is estimated to cost about $400,000, however, this will be funded with money from the town’s Capital Improvement Fund and will not be included in the bond financing.

Mood said the town will also be coordinating with various utilities and the Sanitary District for any projects they are planning within the Saguaro Boulevard right-of-way. The goal will be to have as much as possible completed before construction on Saguaro would begin.

If the bond is approved by voters the town would immediately ask for requests for qualifications from engineering firms to design the project.

This phase would take about two months with the firm selected in January or February of 2014. The design work is expected to take about six months.

Construction could at that point be bid with a process taking about two months, and construction could take place between October 2014 and April 2015.

However, the town may choose not to use this schedule because it would create construction on a main thoroughfare during the months when winter visitors are in town as well as both large arts and craft fairs produced by the Chamber of Commerce.

An alternate schedule would call for bidding the project in early 2015 with construction taking place between March and August of 2015, when it would not interfere with winter visitors and activities.

(Next week this series will discuss the project’s financing.)