Monthly Archives: May 2015

SR 89A travel reduced to one lane south of switchbacks beginning Monday

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FLAGSTAFF/SEDONA — Motorists traveling on State Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff should allow for extra travel time as the Arizona Department of Transportation starts a safety improvement project next week to improve erosion protection along the eastern bank of Oak Creek at milepost 385, just south of the switchbacks.

Beginning on Monday, May 4, SR 89A will be reduced to one lane during daytime Monday through Friday, from the early morning hours to 4 p.m., as northbound and southbound traffic will alternate driving through the work zone.

No nighttime, weekend or holiday work is anticipated.

The repair to the creek bank will fortify support to the roadway and prepare for strong stormwater flows expected during the monsoon season. Following last year’s Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon, water flow in Oak Creek is expected to increase and could undermine the east bank of Oak Creek and roadway support at this location without the scheduled improvement work.

The bank protection work is anticipated to be fully completed this summer.

Flaggers will be on-site to provide alternating north- and southbound travel through the work zone. Please allow for extra travel time as delays up to 15 minutes can be expected while work is performed.

Timberline/Fernwood Neighborhood Watch Holiday Meeting

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll and Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta would like to invite residents of the Timberline and Fernwood communities to the monthly Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. The meeting will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Summit Fire Station 33, located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of Highway 89N. Chief Deputy,

Jim Driscoll staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

Our guest speakers Rick Emry who is the Housing Rehabilitation Specialist for the City of Flagstaff. He will speak about how the project applies to rural unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Coconino County Public Works Deputy Director Lucinda Andreani will speak about the ongoing flood mitigation working being done in the Timberline, Fern wood and Doney Park Neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Pothole repairs scheduled for US 89 just north of Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — Travelers heading southbound on US 89 just north of Flagstaff may encounter delays through Doney Park just north of Flagstaff, as ADOT maintenance crews repair potholes in the area.

The work will take place on the southbound lanes of US 89 between mileposts 426 to 429, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday (May 4- 6). Drivers are asked to use caution while in the construction area and to be alert for ADOT maintenance crew and observe potential lane closures or speed reductions while work is underway.

Clean and Beautiful campaign good this year

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Volunteers direct the operation at the Williams Visitor Center.

Volunteers direct the operation at the Williams Visitor Center.

WILLIAMS — The Williams Clean and Beautiful campaign seemed to do better this year though they went up against the opening of the Williams little league baseball season.
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Still there were a few more bags lining the streets, this year, and a number of residents took advantage of the extra waste and electronics recycle dump at the Williams transfer station and Rodeo Barn.

American Legion post members man the barbeque.

American Legion post members man the barbeque.

After picking up, the workers enjoyed a lunch provided by the members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13.

Clean and Beautiful workers relax after the event.

Clean and Beautiful workers relax after the event.


It seems they finished just in time as the clouds were moving in and a 30% chance of thunderstorms exist today.

ADOT receives environmental award for San Pedro bridge replacement near Sierra Vista

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adot-logo-03aPHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation has been recognized for its environmental protection efforts while rebuilding the San Pedro Bridge through a sensitive conservation area on State Route 90 east of Sierra Vista.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation’s annual Globe Awards this month highlighted ADOT’s work to protect the natural environment during a nearly two-year reconstruction.

Throughout the project, ADOT employed a biologist to monitor construction impacts on the river as well as the more than 200 animal species and 250 migratory bird species in the area.

While the bridge replacement began in October 2012, work halted the following April through October to avoid disrupting the migratory bird season in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.

Other environmental mitigation measures included a containment plan to prevent debris from contaminating the San Pedro, along with lead paint abatement before the old bridge was demolished. Also, the project included re-seeding vegetation and planting trees.

“ADOT worked to be good stewards of the environment from the planning all the way through the construction of the new San Pedro Bridge,” said Safford District Engineer Bill Harmon. “This environmental award demonstrates ADOT can preserve nature while improving the area’s transportation system.”

The Globe Award recognizes transportation agencies that do an outstanding job protecting the environment in the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects. The recognition was in the category of bridges costing less than $10 million.

The San Pedro Bridge is an important link between the communities of Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Bisbee. The old bridge, built in 1955, was replaced with a structure featuring wider travel lanes, emergency shoulders and greater clearance over the San Pedro River. The $6.2 million project was completed in March 2014.

Leg of man severed by train

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Flagstaff Police Department photo

Flagstaff Police Department photo

FLAGSTAFF — At approximately 0234 hours this morning, Officers were called to the area of the railroad tracks and Market Place near the railroad marker 339 in reference to a subject who was lying on the ground near the tracks with a severe leg injury.

When officers arrived in the area they located the subject lying on the south side of what appeared to be three sets of tracks. They observed the subject to have a severed left leg just below the knee.

The subject was identified as a 24 year old male, who was still conscious at the scene, although bleeding heavily from his wound.

Officers immediately rendered first aid by applying a tourniquet to the injured limb after requesting medics to the scene. The subject was stabilized by attending medics and transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center for further treatment.

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to remind all citizens of the inherent dangers of walking on or near the railroad tracks. The designated crossings are considered public property with specific crossing rules. All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it’s illegal trespass and highly dangerous.

Overnight work Sunday night on Interstate 17 for pavement work

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will perform routine pavement maintenance overnight on northbound Interstate 17 at the Sunset Point traffic interchange (milepost 252) on Sunday, May 3 between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Drivers traveling through the work zone will be required to use the off and on-ramp at Sunset Point to continue on northbound I-17 during work hours. Minimal delays expected.

Crews will also be working on southbound I-17 near the Bumble Bee traffic interchange (mileposts 246 to 249) on a three-mile segment for pavement repair on May 3 that will require a lane restriction between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours.