Judging from the video above, crews have been busy since we last checked in on the SR 260 widening project east of Payson…
Go watch the video from a year ago to compare with today’s and see if you agree (we’ll wait right here!).
See what we mean? The project is really coming along as crews work to construct three miles of four-lane divided highway.
About the SR 260 widening project
This part of the project (the Doubtful Canyon section) is the fifth of six projects designed to widen the highway all the way from Star Valley to the Mogollon Rim. The Doubtful Canyon portion falls between two previously improved sections of SR 260 and will include six concrete bridges, improved drainage, wildlife fencing and new signage.
The progress continues
“We’re more than halfway through the project at this point,” said Senior Resident Engineer Tom Goodman, adding that crews will have a lot of work to complete through the fall before slowing down for the winter months (it will be too cold up there to put down the final layer of rubberized asphalt).
“Once we get through September, most of the earth work and pipe work will be done on the project so there’s going to be quite a bit less activity out here it’s primarily just going to be working on the bridges at that point,” Goodman said.
Crews will come back again in the spring and early summer of next year to finish up the project and complete the final paving.
Stay tuned … we’ll continue to keep you updated on the project! For more information, visit the project webpage.
Not only will the improvement to the highway result in more safety and slightly faster speed, but it appears to also straighten out the curves in that area to some degree, adding even more safety yet. Good job I say to ADOT. Keep up the good work, we do appreciate the resulting better way to the cooler climates over the years.
ReplyDeleteWe also like the addition of this new blog site.
I trust the speed limit will not be kept at 45mph through the finished section of Doubtful Canyon until the rubberized asphalt is laid in the spring. The hills in there are tall (even with the leveling & straightening of the new section) it's difficult to maintain 65 for many vehicles but it's silly to have the roadway finished and the speed limit at the construction speed of 45. I know this was done when Little Green Valley was completed because they were still working on the water erosion along the side of the roads and guard rails. There will be no reason to keep it at 45 once the workers are gone for the winter!!!
ReplyDeleteCan ADOT get started on Lion Springs Draw? The five mile section just East of Star Valley. It's in the budget for 2016, can it get moved up? It's a 3 year project which means it'll be finished in 2019!?! What a shame to move all of the construction equipment out of the area only to have to move it back when Lion Springs is worked on.
ADOT is working to make 260 4 lanes from Heber-Overgaard to Show Low. There HAS to be more traffic between Payson & Holbrook using 260 on the West side of Heber-Overgaard!!! Travelers from Phoenix to Holbrook go up 77 from Show Low, not to Heber-Overgaard then up 277!!! ADOT SHOULD be working to make 260 4 lanes from Heber-Overgaard West, to the top of the rim! Not East to Show Low! Get that truck traffic on a 4 lane road! There are many passing lanes & pull outs just completed between Heber-Overgaard & Show Low and ADOT is going to rip all that out and redo it?!? Doesn't make sense! Unless a congressman or senator said do that part first - or was it just an ADOT executive?
Thanks for the blog, gives us a place to voice concerns.
Thanks for your comments and questions!
DeleteThe speed limit through the Doubtful Canyon construction zone during the winter shut down will be set at an appropriate level depending status of the project at the time of the shut down.
We were very pleased that the Arizona State Transportation Board allocated $43.5 million in 2016 for the Lion Springs segment, because the funding had not been included in previous five-year construction programs. It is unlikely that the project will be moved up in the program, because the funding would have to be taken from another project elsewhere in Arizona. Every project is bid separately, so there is no guarantee that the contractor on the Doubtful Canyon project would be the contractor on the Lion Springs project.
The average daily traffic on State Route 260 between Woods Canyon Lake and Heber is between 5,500 and 6,000 vehicles per day. East of the junction of State Route 277 the vehicle count is 6,400. The count decreases past Overgaard, increases to 10,500 in Linden, and continues increasing to 16,500 at the junction with US 60 in Show Low. There is no funding in ADOT's current five-year construction program for improvements between Overgaard and Show Low. The new passing lanes were designed to be compatible with future widening and will not be torn out.
Hope that helps! Let us know if you have additional questions ... thank you!