Mountain Ave, Roger Road to Fort Lowell
Project History
Mountain Avenue is one of Tucson’s most interesting and unique urban corridors, offering a scenic route from the University of Arizona all the way to the banks of the Rillito River. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are treated to breathtaking mountain views, classic local architecture, and the rustic charm of the U of A farm and agricultural research center.
The Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) initiated the Mountain Avenue Demonstration Project in the late 1980’s to guide the improvement of Mountain Avenue from Roger Road to Speedway Boulevard, taking into account the distinctive character of each neighborhood along the route. Phases I and II of the project have been completed. Phase III of the project- Mountain Avenue from Roger Road to Fort Lowell Road – will involve a number of improvements, with no widening, so that this stretch remains a quiet, two-lane roadway. Construction is planned for the fall of 2008.
Project Description
This project will require the removal, reconstruction, and widening of the existing two-lane pavement to provide two through lanes, bike lanes, curb, sidewalk, street lights at various intersections, and landscaping. This project will also include underground storm drain improvements and the relocation of overhead utility lines to underground. Modifications to water and sanitary sewer facilities will also be made as part of this project.
A new traffic signal at Prince Road and provisions for a future signal at Roger Road are part of the scope for this project. Street lights at strategic intersections along with the infrastructure for future lighting will be made at this time.
Public art, continuing a version of the rock formations used in the first phase, is also part of this project.
Work will be done in an orderly and phased manner. The road will be open to allow residents one way access on Mountain Avenue. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be provided with a shared paved path through the entire project site where possible.
The contractor for the Phase III portion of the project is Borderland Construction. They were the contractors for both Phase I and Phase II. The cost of the work is approximately eleven million dollars ($11,000,000).
Work should begin in October 2008 and will take up to twenty-four months to complete. Look for message boards for exact start up dates.
Residents will be advised of construction progress or changes to traffic circulation by message boards, notices, and by the internet. Affected users of Mountain Avenue may view all communications at http://dot.tucsonaz.gov/projects/mountain/. Call Fred Felix at 837-6620 if you have questions or wish to discuss the project in further detail.
Special Features
- Drainage Improvements – underground drainage improvements will be constructed as part of this project. These improvements will eliminate the need for the existing drainage ditch that currently exists along the east- side of the road.
- Curbs and sidewalks - new curbs will line the new roadway making it safer for pedestrians and protecting properties from stormwater.
- Decorative concrete sidewalks – new six- foot wide decorative concrete sidewalks will improve safety and encourage pedestrian use.
- Street lighting at some intersections – street lighting will be provided at strategic locations and improve safety at night. The conduits and pullboxes for future lighting will be installed as part of this project.
- Raised medians at strategic locations – raised landscaped medians at strategic locations will help to regulate traffic and improve safety through the neighborhood.
- Bike path with buffer area – the road will be widened to provide five foot wide bike lanes separated by a decorative pavement buffer. This will encourage alternate modes of transportation and improve bicycle safety.
- Rubberized asphalt paving - recycled asphalt rubber will be used in the paving mix to reduce tire noise and extend the pavement life.
- Public art – local artist Simon Donovan is creating the public art using large boulders inscribed with Tohono O’odham poetry (in both Tohono O’odham and English) at strategic points along the roadway. The poetry is the work of Ofelia Zepeda, Tohono O’odham poet and scholar, UA linguistics professor, a Tucson poet laureate, and longtime neighborhood resident.
- Landscaping – Project landscaping will focus on native shrubs and low water-use flowering plants that complement the public art. For example, banana yucca and bear grass – two native species used in traditional Tohono O’odham basket weaving – will be featured in the Phase III landscaping.
Project Updates
Traffic Impact Information
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)
Q. When will the project begin?A. The construction will begin in October 2008. The exact dates have not been set. Look for message boards declaring when the work will start.
Q. What will the construction accomplish?A. Mountain Avenue will be widened between Roger Road and Fort Lowell Road to look similar to improvements already constructed south of Fort Lowell to Speedway Boulevard. The existing two-lane pavement will be reconstructed and re-paved to provide bike lanes, curb, sidewalk, street lights at various intersections, and landscaping. This project will also include underground storm drain improvements and the relocation of overhead utility lines to underground. Modifications to water and sanitary sewer facilities will also be made as part of this project. A new traffic signal at Prince Road and provisions for a future signal at Roger Road are part of the scope for this project. Public art continuing the rock formation motif used as part of the first phase is also part of this project.
Q. How long will the construction take?
A. This project is very complicated, as there is minimal room to do the construction and keep access open. The construction could take as long as 24 months to complete and will be done in several phases to minimize impacts.
Q. How much will this construction cost?
A. The cost of construction is estimated to be $11 M. This project is federally funded.
Q. Who is the contractor?
A. The contractor is Borderland Construction. They were the contractors who completed both the first and second phases of the previous projects.
Q. What is being done to minimize the impact to residents and commuters?
A. Work will be done in an orderly and phased manner. The road will be open to allow residents one way access on Mountain Avenue between Roger Road and Fort Lowell road. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be provided with a paved path to share through the entire project site where possible.
Q. Why has it taken so long to go to construction?
A. The project has taken longer to get to this point because the project is federally funded and the federal government has changed their requirements during the planning and design. The construction material costs have also increased significantly. Oil prices have driven costs for petroleum related materials such as plastics and asphalt concrete higher. This required that we re-budget the project to account for the market price increases.
Q. This road is used by many people. How will the contractor communicate the expected activities and detour information?
A. The contractor will communicate with residents and commuters via message boards, notices, and a web page. The web address is http://www.dot.tucsonaz.gov/projects/mountain/. The web page will be updated with new information and construction expectations each month.
Q. Will this project remove properties from the floodplain?
A. This project is a road improvement project with underground storm drains. It will not remove properties from the floodplain, but help contain and convey storm water in a safe manner to the Rillito River.
Q. Many residential streets have not been maintained for some time. We are worried that construction equipment will destroy what is left of them. What will the City of Tucson do to ensure they are protected and maintained?
A. The contractor has designated haul routes. Construction equipment will be limited to these streets as much as possible. Occasionally, a truck driver will lose his way and turn down the wrong street. This will be minimized as much as possible through communication. The vehicles that are used are “street rated”. This means they can legally drive on paved streets without causing damage to the pavement. Equipment that is carried on trailers are not street rated and cannot be legally driven on the pavement. Do not expect TDOT to replace pavement that contractor pick-ups use or that an occasional truck drives over.
The City of Tucson Department of Transportation has a residential street maintenance program. All streets are inventoried and the condition measured and prioritized. Tucson has thousands of miles of streets. Our operating budget has been cut back due to the economy so the number of streets that are resurfaced each year has declined. All residential streets have been programmed to be resurfaced at one time or another. You can call 791-3154 to ask when your neighborhood has been scheduled to be resurfaced.
Q. Will electric, water, or sewer services be shut off and for how long?
A. Utility service will be shut off occasionally to “cut-over” the new connection. Residents will be notified ahead of time and advised how long service will be down. Some work, such as water service shut downs, will be done at night when everyone is sleeping to minimize the impact. Electric service will actually be done by appointment and for a short time. Sometimes accidental breaks occur. These are unexpected and may take longer to put back in service. We will try to minimize any inconvenience.
Q. I am concerned about emergency situations. Will our home be accessible and will fire hydrants be out of service?
A. Access to the residences will be available during and after the construction shift for fire engines or ambulances. Mountain Avenue will be limited to one way. Access from and to side streets will be available from Mountain Avenue at all times to local traffic.
Fire hydrants are typically not out of service until the replacement is ready to be put on line. Arrangements with the Tucson Fire Department (TFD) will be made if this cannot be accommodated. The TFD will make note and connect to another fire hydrant in the vicinity if necessary.
Q. Will this project use recycled materials?
A. Yes, this project will use rubberized asphalt concrete as the final layer of pavement. This material contains recycled rubber tires and has been proven to reduce tire noise to the neighborhood. It has a longer life, requires less maintenance, and is more economical in the long run.
Q. Will the materials used on this project hold up over time?
A. All materials used on this project must meet certain quality specifications and constructed per recognized and measurable expectations. Materials and their placement will be tested by certified testing professionals to ensure the materials are acceptable and have been constructed properly to stand up over time. The contractor also has to guarantee his work over an agreed period of time. Should there be a problem, he agrees to remove, replace any defective work at his cost.
Q. Can residents east and north of Mountain Avenue (near Prospect Lane) be detoured through the adjacent mobile home park?
A. No, unfortunately these streets are not public streets and create a liability for everyone. Access to this area will be provided to Limberlost Road via Mountain Avenue. Work will generally be done in this area after everyone has gone to school or work each day. Work will take about a week. Please bear with us as we try to complete this work as soon as possible.
Q. What are the work hours?
A. Generally, they will be 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. There will be occasional night and weekend work. Residents will be notified when night or weekend work is planned.
Q. The overhead wires and poles will be relocated underground along the west side. Why can’t the poles be removed from the east side too?
A. There is a high cost for relocating overhead to underground. High voltage lines are expensive to design, construct, and maintain when they are relocated underground. What we have on this project is a compromise that is acceptable to TEP. The wood poles will be removed and this will help to improve the aesthetics to the neighborhood.
Q. What will happen to the ditch along the east side of the road?
A. The ditch will be filled in and the road widened to provide bike lanes on both sides, sidewalks, and landscaping. Catch basins will collect storm water and convey it to underground storm drains installed as part of this project.
Q. Will there be any medians in Mountain Avenue?
A. Yes, there will be some medians at strategic locations to help control vehicle speeds. They are raised medians with decorative concrete and landscaping.
