Sprouts is still shopping for a location in the Vail area, according to their Arizona real estate manager. They have not found a location that works as of this writing, but will continue their search.
Colossal Cave Road: Acacia Elementary School to Old Vail Middle School
Beginning Tuesday, May 31, Pima County Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Authority and their contractor, Southern Arizona Paving will begin work on the Colossal Cave Roadway Improvement Project. The work is expected to be completed by winter of 2017. The project will improve traffic operations on Colossal Cave Road with the addition of a center two-way left-turn lane that will widen the existing two-lane section through most of the project. Project improvements will also include pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, drainage upgrades, and landscaping along with other streetscape amenities. The contractor will begin mobilizing equipment, installing traffic control and vegetation removal prior to the major work beginning. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Monday, June 6 at 9 a.m. in front of St. Rita in the Desert Catholic Church located at 13260 E. Colossal Cave Road. Please approach the area with caution and obey all traffic control devices. Minor delays may occur during this work. Motorists may wish to seek alternate routes. In the event of mechanical failure or inclement weather, the construction schedule will be subject to change.
Fry’s Gas Station Relocation
Construction of the Fry’s gas station relocation is ongoing. The gas station currently in the Fry’s parking lot is moving to a location at Houghton and Rita Roads. No word on a completion date.
Houghton Road Bridge
The City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) is designing and constructing improvements to widen Houghton Road to four to six lanes from Tanque Verde Road to Interstate 10. These improvements are made possible by the voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Plan.
The design for the Houghton Road Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad project is complete. The City is waiting for the arrival of the federal funding, and then will put the project out to bid. The current anticipated construction start date is October of this year, and the project should take two years to complete, (2018).
The phasing of this project will keep traffic on the current bridge, while one half of the new bridge is build next to the old bridge. Once this is complete, traffic will be transferred over to the new bridge (half) and the old bridge will be demolished. When the second half of the new bridge is complete, traffic will be distributed on to both bridge halves, with the northbound on one and the southbound on the other.
Do you have questions about construction in our area?
Email me at: lucretia@thevailvoice.com
Due to email volume, I may not be able to respond to each individual email, but will address questions directly in this column. Thank you!
