A local paving contractor was busy last week making major, but temporary, repairs on Saguaro Boulevard after a recent rain storm caused considerable damage to the deteriorating pavement.

In the meantime, town staff is working to gather information needed by the Town Council to make policy decisions to implement long-term improvements that include the reconstruction of Saguaro Boulevard.

There are three specific projects the town is look-ing at that are somewhat interrelated -- the reconstruction of Saguaro Boulevard, the Avenue of the Fountains median improvements and an upgrade to the intersection at Saguaro and Avenue of the Fountains.

It will take a coordinated effort to get necessary financing and timing to put these projects in mo-tion, according to Town Manager Ken Buchanan.

While any or all of these projects could be done independently of the others, it is not likely, for in-stance, that the intersection upgrade would be done if the Saguaro reconstruction is not done, and there are two or three options for how those upgrades can be done.

Currently the town has a consultant working on a design for the Avenue improvements.

“The council reduced the scope of this project with the idea that any savings could go into upgrades at the intersection,” Buchanan said.

“That is tied to our capital improvement program if additional funds are needed.”

This also has a direct bearing on the staff proposal to present a bond question to voters in November for the reconstruction of Saguaro between Shea and Fountain Hills boulevards.

Avenue intersection

The council has asked staff to look at funding improvements at the Av-enue of the Fountains and Saguaro intersection separately from the bond request.

This is to keep the amount on the ballot request to a minimum as well as provide more flexibility with options for the improvements.

Council members have heard about several al-ternatives for the intersection that advance the goal of improved pedestrian safety as they move across Saguaro between the Avenue and Fountain Park.

Basically the options include variations on either the existing three-way stop or a roundabout.

Staff is proposing a modification of the existing configuration with the medians on all three points extended to encompass and offer protec-tion to the pedestrian crosswalks.

It would be a minimal addition for conduit to be included to allow for the future installation of traffic signals if that were deemed necessary.

While it is an option to install traffic signals at this point it is not considered an immediate need.

A roundabout is more expensive and there is the option of making it one lane or two.

The roundabout keeps traffic moving and some engineers say it enhances safety by reducing the number of conflict points for pedestrians and traffic.

However, roundabouts tend to be controversial and there is a potential to alienate voters whether the cost is included in the bond or not.

Also, not everyone agrees they are safer as Mayor Linda Kavanagh has reported receiving input from bicyclists opposed to roundabouts.

The proposal is to use capital improvement funds and/or other project savings to fund the Saguaro reconstruction between Paul Nordin Park-way and Parkview Ave-nue.

Depending on the option this could be up to another $1 million.

The staff-proposed option for the intersection work has an estimated cost of $150,000 and that would be included in the bond if approved.

Saguaro redo

Right now staff is estimating it will take an $8.2 million bond to reconstruct Saguaro. While the council has until June to make a decision to get the question on a November ballot, staff wants to bring the question to the council as soon as possible, maybe as early as March, according to Buchanan.

A test of the existing pavement revealed that the existing asphalt and subgrade is well below accepted engineering standards, which has prompted staff to recommend the reconstruction.

That would entail removal of the asphalt and about 10 inches of subgrade. This would allow six to eight inches of new subgrade with three to four inches of asphalt.

There are also drainage improvements needed at the intersection with Pali-sades Boulevard as well as adjacent to the Desert Canyon Golf Club across from Ledferd Lane.

The project would also require ADA access im-provements in places as well as an undetermined amount of new curb and gutter.

“This all ties together when we are talking about the budget,” Buchanan said. “We need to get directives from the council that fits this together.

“We want to be as efficient as possible.”

Staff will be asking for direction regarding an op-tion for the Avenue intersection when the council meets Thursday, Feb. 21.