The town has hired an engineering firm to do the design work for the Saguaro Boulevard reconstruction project.

With Town Council approval last week of a $426,659 agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, the initial survey work is under way.

The design work is scheduled for completion in August followed by the construction bid process. The Kimley-Horn contract includes construction phase engineering services.

The company has provided the town with an outline of its proposed approach to the major aspects of the project. The design will include recommendations for ADA improvements needed as part of the reconstruction.

There will be drainage improvements needed at various locations. Significant flooding takes place in the area of the Saguaro and Palisades boulevards intersection. There is also a drainage issue between Ledferd Lane and Palmer Way along the Desert Canyon Golf Course.

The replacement of the traffic signal at Saguaro and Palisades is also part of the project. A skew to the intersection creates some minor issues with placement of the signal poles and placement of emergency pre-emption equipment. There is also possible need for engineers to evaluate regarding advance warning to address line of sight issues on Panorama Drive approaching the intersection.

Town Manager Ken Buchanan reminded the council that the new traffic signals are not part of the $8.2 million bond proposal approved by voters.

Staff is proposing to address that separately with a $400,000 allocation from the Capital Improvement Fund.

Buchanan noted that the overall cost of the project is estimated at $8.6 million taking into account both the bond funding and the CIP funds.

Kimley-Horn’s proposal also addresses the need to work closely in coordinating with other projects with direct impact. Those include work on Shea Boulevard that will include improvements at the Shea and Saguaro intersection.

The town expects to bid that project early this summer. That is primarily a mill and overlay improvement between the eastern boundary on Shea and Technology Drive. However, intersection improvements will need to coordinate with the Saguaro engineering.

The reconstruction work will need to fit together with work this summer on the Avenue of the Fountains median. Part of the project will make changes to the Avenue of the Fountains intersection with the objective of making pedestrian traffic safer around the downtown area.

Kimley-Horn will also work with the Maricopa County Flood Control District and its design work for culvert construction on Saguaro Boulevard at Ashbrook Wash. That project is currently in the design phase with a construction timetable undetermined at this time.

Future plans for a Sanitary District force main along Saguaro need to be considered as part of the design. Design on that project is nearly complete although funding leaves construction timing undetermined.

Kimley-Horn will also be coordinating with EPCOR (CCWC) related to water lines and other utilities with facilities in the right-of-way.

The town had asked the engineering bidders to consider options for traffic control and flow during the reconstruction project. Kimley-Horn is proposing that work zones be used with one lane of the existing north and south bound lanes available for traffic.

This approach will allow improved access for contractors.

Measures will be taken to allow for business and driveway access.

Allowing for the construction bid process after the engineering design is complete, construction is expected to begin early in the 2015 calendar year.