Department of Transportation

Mountain Avenue: Roger Road To Fort Lowell Road Paving And Drainage Improvement Project

Posted: 04/15/2009

This is a continuing series of construction alerts that will be issued throughout the construction of the Mountain Avenue – Roger Road to Fort Lowell Improvement Project. These alerts will announce construction, detour and closure information as it effects traffic. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are asked to obey all posted speed limit signs within the construction area and be alert for construction crews and personnel working in the area.

• The installation of an underground 72-inch storm drain will require the complete closure of the Mountain Avenue and Prince Road intersection. The closure will begin at 10 p.m., on Friday, April 17, 2009. Crews are expected to reopen the intersection at 8 a.m., on Monday, April 20, 2009. Single lane travel restrictions could be in place on Prince Road following the reopening of the intersection. Work hours for the storm drain work will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., both Saturday, April 18, 2009 and Sunday, April 19, 2009.
• As part of the Mountain Avenue and Prince Road intersection closure, westbound travel on Prince Road at Campbell Avenue and eastbound travel on Prince Road at First Avenue will be reduced to one travel lane. This travel lane restriction is in place as an advance warning to motorists that Prince Road between Campbell Avenue and First Avenue is for local traffic only.
• On Monday, April 20, 2009, travel on Mountain Avenue between Roger Road and Halcyon Road (which is one block north of Fort Lowell Road) will be reduced to one southbound travel lane only. Please note northbound travel on Mountain Avenue between Roger Road and Halcyon Road will be prohibited. The restriction is scheduled to be in place through July 2009. Crews are conducting water line work and storm drain work, and the current right of way width of Mountain Avenue will not safely accommodate two-way travel and work crews.
• Allen Road at Mountain Avenue continues to be closed to through travel. This restriction is scheduled to be in place until early May 2009.

Please note that the above schedule is subject to change due to unforeseen conflicts or inclement weather. Electronic message boards are in place along Campbell Avenue, First Avenue, Mountain Avenue. Roger Road and Prince Road to advise motorists of the above travel restrictions. Motorists and bicyclists are advised to find alternate routes to avoid delays. Please note that for the safety of the traveling public and construction workers, the speed limit in the work zone is 15 mph, and Tucson police are patrolling the area.

The improvement project began in October 2008 and is being constructed by Borderland Construction, which is under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation. The project consists of the removal, reconstruction, and widening of the existing two-lane street to provide two through lanes, bike lanes, curb, sidewalk, street lights at various intersections, and landscaping.

This $11 million, two-year-long project, will also include underground storm drain improvements and the relocation of a majority of the overhead utility lines to underground. Modifications to water and sanitary sewer facilities will also be made as part of this project.