AJO WAY/KINNEY ROAD DESIGN-BUILD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Proposed Improvement

The Ajo/Kinney Design-Build Improvement Project is a combination of two projects:

• Pima County Department of Transportation’s planned widening of Kinney Road, from just south of Ajo Way to just north of Sarasota Boulevard, realignment of Bopp Road to intersect Kinney Road at Sarasota Boulevard, and improvements to the Ajo Way/Kinney Road intersection.
• The Arizona Department of Transportation’s planned widening of Ajo Way, from Sheridan Avenue to approximately 1,500 feet east of Kinney.

Improvements to Kinney Road include additional travel lanes, a new traffic signal at Kinney and Sarasota, medians, turn lanes, curbs, landscaping, and sidewalks. Improvements to Ajo Way are primarily focused on the improved access and widening at the Ajo Way/Kinney Road intersection.

Progress Report - February 22, 2008

Roadway Construction – Design and construction of roadway improvements has been delayed approximately six months to allow the County, Developer and ADOT to address several issues regarding federal permitting and cost sharing revisions due to projected construction cost increases. A solution has been found that addresses the federal permits. The Developer, ADOT and Pima County are currently working on agreements that redefine their respective funding responsibilities. This work is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, 2008.
In the interim, work has progressed to provide public input, adopt the County’s Environmental Assessment and Mitigation Report as well has continue with purchasing of additional right-of-way needed for the project.
The improvements to Ajo Way and Kinney Road will take approximately 15 months to complete once construction begins. Construction is projected to start in the fall of 2008 and be
completed in the spring, 2010. Construction will begin once design is completed and permits issued. Crews will begin with utility relocations that must be completed prior to roadway improvements getting underway. During this work, one lane in each direction will be open for the traveling public.

Mountain Vista Shopping Center – Construction of the shopping center, located at the northwest corner of Ajo Way and Kinney Road, is expected to take 8 – 10 months to complete and will begin once the roadway construction is underway. The goal is for the shopping center and the roadway to be under construction simultaneously.

Demolition of South Forty Shopping Center - In 2007, the County purchased the South Forty Shopping Center in order to provide additional right of way for widening of Kinney Road. All tenants have been relocated, underground gasoline tanks have been removed and demolition of all buildings is scheduled to start the first week of March, 2008 and be completed by then end of the month. Portions of the existing parking lot will be left in place for use by the roadway contractor. During construction of Kinney Road, the property will be fenced and used by the contractor as a staging area. Following construction, any remaining site improvements will be removed and the site returned to a natural condition.

Public Input

A Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) was established to provide input into both the shopping center development and the roadway improvements. The NAC is made up of representatives from neighborhoods and homeowners associations surrounding the project area, Kitt Peak, Saguaro National Park, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson, the previous Kinney Road Citizens Advisory Committee, and businesses within one mile of the project. Please see the attached list of NAC members and Scheduled Meetings.

A project open house was held on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Tucson Estates Recreational Hall, 5900 West Western Way Circle, Tucson, Arizona. Approximately 300 people attended the open house throughout the course of the evening. Stations representing the different areas of the project (Design, Construction, Environmental, Shopping Center, and
Project Artist) were set up with project representatives to answer questions and provide information for those in attendance. Comment forms were available for participants to record their comments or ask any questions of the project team.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors PUBLIC HEARING on the Environmental Assessment and Mitigation Report (EAMR) for the Kinney Road Improvements was held Tuesday, November 13, 2007. The Board approved the EMAR with the Neighborhood Advisory Committee’s recommendations.

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