The Road Runner frequently receives emails and calls from readers with questions about specific construction projects.
Here are a few that have accumulated in the Road Runner’s inbox, with answers from Michael Graham, spokesman for the Tucson Department of Transportation.
What is going on with the intersection of East Pima Street, North Wilmot Road and East Tanque Verde Road?
As drivers who pass through the intersection may have noticed, the roadway surface is being ripped up and replaced.
The city is reconfiguring the intersection to make it a traditional “T” intersection, Graham said. The “pork chop” triangular islands are being removed and the city is installing another northbound left-turn lane from Wilmot to Pima.
The project began in late February with an expected completion date in late April, but unexpected complications with the underground water line caused a three-week delay.
Right now, crews are wrapping up work on the east side of Wilmot and Tanque Verde. After that is finished, crews will focus on the west side of the intersection and install new curbs, sidewalks, signage, water lines and paving.
The city hired Clear Contracting to build the new left-turn lane and widen the east side of Wilmot, as well as reconfiguring Pima to coordinate with the new left-turn lane, according to a description on the city’s website.
When will North Houghton Road be widened to six lanes from East Fifth Street to East Tanque Verde Road?
The widening of Houghton is one of the corridor projects included in the Regional Transportation Authority plan, which was approved by voters in 2006.
The plan calls for a six-lane roadway from Fifth to Speedway and a four-lane roadway from Speedway to Tanque Verde, Graham said.
The widening of Houghton from Fifth to Tanque Verde is part of the fourth stage of the RTA plan, and the work won’t be done until after 2022, he said.
A reader told the Road Runner that traffic along East Irvington Road east of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is bumper-to-bumper in the mornings and evenings, and asked if there is a plan to widen Irvington along that stretch.
Unfortunately, Graham said there is no plan to widen Irvington east of Davis-Monthan.
A reader asked the Road Runner to help readers fill out the county’s survey of residents regarding proposed roundabout intersections. The survey is scheduled to wrap up May 9, so hurry and fill it out if you want to be heard by the county.
To fill out the survey, visit the county’s Transportation Department website or use the following address: www.surveymonkey.com/r/_roundabout
Down the Road
Pima County is putting in a variety of traffic restrictions May 3-5 at the intersection of South Columbus Boulevard and East 22nd Street to make way for the installation of new sewer lines and repaving. Given the large number of restrictions, it might be wise to avoid the intersection altogether. But for those who need to use the intersection, here is the rundown:
Daytime restrictions, running from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., on May 3 are: Only two through-lanes on westbound 22nd and intermittent restrictions on left turns along westbound and eastbound 22nd.
Nighttime restrictions, running from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., on May 3 are: No left turns in any direction, no southbound through-traffic on Columbus, only one northbound lane on Columbus and one westbound lane on 22nd.
Daytime restrictions May 4 are: Southbound Columbus reduced to right-turn movement only, no left turns on southbound and northbound Columbus or eastbound 22nd, and one through-lane open for northbound Columbus and westbound 22nd.
Nighttime restrictions May 4 are the same as May 3, except that one lane will be open on southbound Columbus.
From 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5, restrictions are: Northbound Columbus reduced to right-turn movement only. No left turns will be allowed on eastbound 22nd or northbound and southbound Columbus. Only one lane will be open on southbound Columbus and westbound 22nd.
No restrictions are scheduled for the night of May 5. The county said business access will be open at all times. Stay tuned for more updates as the construction progresses.
