After years of dodging potholes, voters in Fountain Hills stepped up and said “enough already” in November by approving an $8.2 million general obligation bond to rebuild Saguaro Boulevard.

On Nov. 5, voters approved by a substantial two-to-one margin the funding for the removal and replacement of the pavement on Saguaro.

The vote tallies presented as the final count had 4551 votes in favor (67 percent) to 2226 opposed (33 percent).

Voters had rejected a bond proposal in 2011 that totaled nearly $30 million for the Saguaro Boulevard work as well as financing ongoing street maintenance for a number of years.

The smaller bond this time seemed to calm many of those who opposed the work.

Much of the pavement on Saguaro is about 40 years old, and it was originally built to substandard specifications, with about two inches of asphalt on three to four inches of base.

The new road will have three to four inches of asphalt on about six inches of base.

In spite of the margin of victory, it was not all smooth sailing with the bond proposal. Controversy swirled around the possibility that a round-about might be used at the intersection of Saguaro and Avenue of the Fountains.

The Town Council finally decided it would not go the round-about route, taking some of the negative pressure off the project.

As 2014 begins staff has begun the process of hiring an engineering firm to design the new road, and the bond sale itself is expected to go forward within a month or two.

The timing of the construction has also been a topic for discussion as it seems there is no great time for a project this size needing to be done.

In December the Town Council decided it wanted the work to proceed as soon as possible. It voted to instruct staff not to delay work for seasonal activities.

It appears construction would begin in early December 2014, right after the fall arts festival in November.

When design is complete the bid process can begin, which would start in September with a contract proposal back to the council in November.

The Great Fair in February 2015 would fall within the construction schedule. It was suggested that Verde River Drive and Paul Nordin Parkway could be used for vendors currently set up on Saguaro.

Several events that are staged using Fountain Park would be impacted in 2015 including the spring concert series, two disc golf tournaments and St. Patrick’s Day. A couple of running events such as the Mountain to Fountain Run and the Athleta Iron Girl may need to modify race routes due to construction.