The Town of Fountain Hills reopened Saguaro Boulevard to four lanes of traffic during the wee hours of Saturday morning for the first time since January.

The barricades were taken down overnight Friday signaling the end of the nine-month project to rebuild Saguaro from the ground up.

Voters approved $8 million in general obligation bonds for the work that removed the old asphalt and base material a foot down. Much of the old asphalt became the new base material and new curbing and gutters were poured over most of the four-mile stretch of roadway.

Town Development Services Director Paul Mood said there are still a number of items on the punch list to be completed or repaired. Mood said town officials, the contractor and the construction manager will walk the project on Thursday to compile a complete punch list.

One project underway is the installation of the lighting at Avenue of the Fountains. Footings were being drilled early this week and the poles are on site for installation. Mood said the actual light fixtures are still a couple of weeks out.

Other work currently underway is at Kingstree Boulevard on the northbound side of Saguaro. Crews are extending the EPCOR Water Well #11 driveway at Kingstree. The driveway needs to be extended and while that is being done the Sanitary District is doing work to protect its effluent force main underneath this area with slurry backfill.

There is also sign replacement and additional striping to be done, as well as landscape replacement and some drainage refinement.

Motorists are reminded that even though there are four lanes open again, there will be workers in the street for several weeks yet.

The new fountain on the Avenue at Saguaro has been turned on with some minor work to replace damaged lights and prepare the base for the clock to be re-installed.