The Town Council approved a plan for permanent closure of Technology Drive at the Saguaro Boulevard intersection when it met on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

At a previous meeting Town Manager Grady Miller and Public Works Director Justin Weldy provided council with an update on plans to replace the gate with a permanent structure.

Weldy showed the plan to end Technology Drive at Saguaro with a bull-nose and curb with a drainage gutter leading to Saguaro Boulevard. A concrete block wall would be constructed about three feet high that stretches the width of the street in an arc.

Decomposed granite would replace the removed asphalt.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh said she would prefer a landscaped area in lieu of the solid wall. She compared it to the street closure on Stancrest Drive at Hampstead Drive and on Dec. 19 staff came back with an alternative consistent with that proposal.

Along Saguaro Boulevard the sidewalk would be extended a short distance past the connection to the Technology walkway and include one crossing ramp.

The asphalt would be replaced with granite and boulders, with a built up berm instead of the wall.

Weldy offered an option with trees and bushes but said it would cost about $5,000 just to extend irrigation lines to the location. The second option uses desert plants that do not need irrigation.

Miller also noted that staff would be used for the installation of the granite and berm construction to save money.

The cost of the project is estimated at about $2,500.