Road Report for August 6, 2009
Date:
08/06/2009 (Last updated: 08/20/2009)Summary:
16th Narrows at Arizona While Northbound Arizona to Close; Series of Night Closures on Avenue AContact:
16th Narrows at Arizona While Northbound Arizona to Close; Series of Night Closures on Avenue A
16th - Arizona Intersection Improvements; Detour Advisory
Beginning Monday, Aug. 10, northbound Arizona Avenue will be closed at 16th Street in addition to southbound, and traffic on 16th Street is expected to be reduced to one lane in each direction in this vicinity. To access businesses on the north side of 16th Street from the west, use 1st Avenue and take the newly paved alley toward Arizona Avenue, or 12th Street from 1st Avenue to Arizona Avenue. Access the businesses north of 16th and east of Arizona Avenue via 15th Street.
Northbound Arizona Avenue traffic approaching from the south is being diverted at 18th Street: Motorists would then proceed east to Riley Avenue to connect with eastbound 16th Street or proceed west to 1st Avenue to connect with either westbound 16th Street or to continue to travel northbound.
Left turns are prohibited along 16th Street between Riley Avenue and Maple Avenue. Access will be provided at all times to those businesses along these portions of 16th Street and Arizona Avenue.
For businesses along the south side of 16th Street, from 1st Avenue to Arizona Avenue, westbound customers should utilize 1st Avenue to 18th Street, using Maple Avenue to access these businesses. For businesses east of Arizona Avenue, use 1st Avenue to 18th Street, then turn north on Arizona Avenue to either access the business, or use Arizona Avenue to access 17th Street running east to Riley Avenue.
The City of Yuma is asking motorists traveling in the vicinity of the 16th Street and Arizona Avenue intersection improvements project to please use and observe detours as marked. It is illegal to use private property to avoid authorized traffic control device. Drivers observed by the Yuma Police Department to be cutting through private parking lots to avoid a stop light or other traffic control device can be cited.
DPE, a local contractor working for the City of Yuma is expanding the intersection of 16th Street and Arizona Avenue to include 6 lanes of traffic on 16th Street plus additional turn lanes, and turn lanes on Arizona Avenue as well. The contractor plans to use an aggressive timetable for construction, with the goal of finishing months earlier than the expected estimated completion time frame of May 2010. To accomplish this, work will be done in expanded hours and during weekends.
This project is the precursor to the larger ADOT 16th Street Reconstruction Project that will begin later this summer and cover the area from Yuma Palms Parkway to just east of the Arizona Avenue intersection. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at this intersection, beginning in early-August
Avenue A Widening - New Overnight Closures
A series of overnight closures will affect Avenue A between 24th and 16th streets in the upcoming week. These closure will each take place as soon as 7 p.m. and ending by 6 a.m. the following morning.
Thursday to Friday: Avenue A will be closed entirely between 23rd and 24th streets for work on a sewer manhole in the existing roadway.
- Aug. 10 to 11: Avenue A will be closed between 21st and 23rd streets for underground water system construction.
- Aug. 11 to 12: Avenue A will be closed between 22nd and 24th streets while crews cut existing water lines and plug them shut.
- Aug. 12 to 13: There will be lane restrictions at 24th Street and Avenue A for underground water line work in that area. Eastbound 24th will be restricted to one lane, and southbound Avenue A will be closed at that point.
- Aug. 13 to 14: Avenue A will be closed between 24th Street and Rosewood Drive (south of 24th Street) for continuing "cut and plug" water line work.
Through traffic during the duration of this project is advised to used 4th Avenue, 8th Avenue or Avenue B for north-south travel when possible. Motorists detouring through surrounding residential neighborhoods are asked to please observe residential street speed limits of 25 mph.
Currently, 16th Street remains reduced to one lane in each direction at Avenue A. Motorists who cannot avoid this intersection should leave several minutes earlier than normal to compensate for delays.
On Avenue A, the right northbound lane is closed and the center turn lane used for northbound traffic, so motorists should expect delays behind those waiting to make turns. As pavement has been removed on the east side of the avenue, turns onto and off of side streets will be bumpy and trailing motorists should give the drivers in front of them extra time to complete these turns.
The overall project involves the widening of Avenue A to double the current number of through-traffic lanes as well as intersection improvements at 16th Street and 24th Street and a water main improvement just south of 24th Street.
Carver Park Neighborhood Reconstruction - Magnolia Avenue
Magnolia Avenue is closed north of 8th Street during daytime hours and will be open to local traffic only or reduced to one lane at times between 5th Street and 8th Street. For north-south travel between 1st and 8th streets, use Avenue A or Avenue B. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2009.
For More Information
The City of Yuma appreciates the patience and understanding of the motoring public and all residents affected by infrastructure improvement projects. For information and assistance about how your business or residence might be affected by city construction projects, contact Greg Hyland, CPM, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at 373-5023, or 580-4751.
For further information, please contact Greg Hyland, CPM, the City of Yuma's Director of Communications & Public Affairs at (928) 373-5023 or by e-mail or Dave Nash, City of Yuma Public Affairs Coordinator at (928) 373-5015 or by e-mail.
