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New traffic light may arrive in September

By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Today's News-Herald
Published Thursday, July 29, 2010 1:05 AM MST

Getting through the Acoma and South Palo Verde boulevards intersection should be a lot easier this fall, city officials say.

Pre-construction began this week at the intersection, where a traffic light is scheduled to be installed as soon as September, with crews expected to be making final adjustments as late as Aug. 4. The City Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement Dec. 8, 2009, with the Arizona Department of Transportation to receive $364,687 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the project. The installation of the light won’t be finished by the time schools start, Public Works Director Mark Clark said.

“It’s one of these things where you order the signal poles and they don’t have them on-hand and they take six weeks to fabricate them and ship them to you,” he said. “There will be construction this week and next, school will start and then when the poles get delivered six or eight weeks from now they’ll spend a couple of days putting those poles up and the traffic signal will appear almost overnight.”

City staff met with ADOT, HDR Consultants and Roadway Electric in June regarding the project, which was originally slated for 2007, City Manager Charlie Cassens said.

“It was put on the backburner because only one bid was received and it was put well outside the realm of reasonableness,” Cassens told the City Council June 22. “Now we have ARRA grant money that will be used to put in at least one of the two original signals that were proposed.”

The other signal proposed in 2007 was slated for the Smoketree Avenue and Acoma Boulevard, but Cassens said the need was greater at the Acoma and South Palo Verde boulevards intersection.

“Anybody trying to get through that intersection after high school lets out will understand why we chose that intersection,” Cassens said in June.

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com

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Comments (11 comment(s))

longtimeinhavasu wrote on Aug 4, 2010 8:51 AM:

" To biggredd: This is an ADOT project with ARA money, the City did not have control over the timing. They were advised of when school started. The work will finish up today on the foundations and then no disruptions until September when the poles arrive. At that time, another day or two of disruptions. A total impact to the traffic of a week and only one lane at a time. Not bad. Nothing is ever perfect. "

biggredd wrote on Aug 4, 2010 2:08 AM:

" It is about time, however who was the idiot that waited until school started to do the construction? This town is always a day late and a dollar short. The kids have been on summer break...do the work then, not when they are back and the traffic is worse!! "

northbound wrote on Aug 1, 2010 7:44 AM:

" It's about time they wised up and put a light there. I used to hit that intersection at 5pm and it would be a nightmare trying to get home. Can't wait for the one at Acoma and Smoketree to get put in. "

LHCMOM wrote on Jul 30, 2010 8:47 AM:

" It's about time! This intersection definately needs a stop light. All you complaining about the light must not have children that have to cross at that intersection. Mine are out of school but I still want the other children to be safe crossing the street. Have you seen the number of YOUNG children that cross there and at Pima and Acoma...it's a joke. Of course, my opinion is that young children should not be walking to school by themselves, but that is a different issue. Anyways, my point is, is that people are rude and only care about where they are going and for the most part will not stop long enough to let them cross and a stop light will help with that problem also. Stop being so negative people! "

hava-NY-er wrote on Jul 29, 2010 1:58 PM:

" That is one intersection that needs a stop light system, especially, during the school year. I have lived in many towns including Havasu (for 14 years) and I believe that people in Havasu do know how to navigate 4-way stop signs as a whole. Yes there will always be the ones that don't or abuse their "right of way is the only way" but I think people are complaining on this issue just to complain. Think positive people.. "

wolter80 wrote on Jul 29, 2010 11:28 AM:

" whats cassens salary "

resident wrote on Jul 29, 2010 11:08 AM:

" I have to agree, the fewer traffic lights the better. However, for safety sake, what about placing the light at the high school intersection of SPalo Verde & Kiowa.

To add, there should be some calming measures from this intersection down past the telesis school. "

VoiceOfReason wrote on Jul 29, 2010 11:05 AM:

" While I agree with both of you about the lack of skills to navigate a 4way, the reality is, those lacking skills will always be with us, between new arrivals in town, new drivers, and visitors. Plus, that corner is crazy busy at certain times of the day and no amount of knowledge is going to reduce the sheer number of cars. I am applauding the light. I often have to travel that area for work, and can't always control the time of day I go by, so I'm doing the happy dance for the light. "

babbyhummer wrote on Jul 29, 2010 9:30 AM:

" This stop light is really needed. It's not a matter of you knowing how to navigate a 4 way stop - there is just to much traffic and a light is needed. "

lifer wrote on Jul 29, 2010 8:49 AM:

" Wilson,

While I agree, all it takes is one moron to make the rest of the drivers look like idiots too. "

wilson wrote on Jul 29, 2010 7:19 AM:

" We don't need more traffic lights, but we do need more people that understand navigating a 4 way stop. The number of people that just sit there and look at each other is amazing. "

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