Utility work at 16th Street/Arizona Avenue to begin

Jul 11, 2009 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- AZD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Beginning Monday, Arizona Public Service Co. will be relocating some utilities near the intersection of 16th Street and Arizona Avenue in preparation for improvements to the heavily traveled area.

Current traffic control plans indicate there will be individual right lane closures on 16th Street as needed. At one point, Arizona Avenue will be closed south of 16th to accommodate a brief power pole crossing. Flagmen will be there to assist motorists.

DPE Construction of Yuma will be expanding the intersection to include six lanes of traffic on 16th Street plus additional turn lanes, and turn lanes on Arizona Avenue as well. A new traffic signal will provide arrows for protected left turns.

The work also includes the replacement of older, undersized water distribution and transmission lines along with new curbs, gutter, sidewalk, asphaltic concrete pavement, storm drain improvements, street lights, landscaping and traffic signals.

Beginning in mid-August, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at this intersection.

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.

The city of Yuma project will link with the upcoming Arizona Department of Transportation widening of 16th Street from Yuma Palms Regional Center to just east of Arizona Avenue.

That project is expected to begin in September. It will widen 16th Street along that stretch of road to seven lanes, including the bridges over Interstate 8 and the railroad.

Other traffic projects currently around Yuma include:

22ND DRIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL: The city is preparing to activate the traffic signal at 22nd Drive and 24th Street. The signal could be turned to flashing yellow by this weekend, and full activation could occur as soon as Tuesday.

The three phases of traffic flow at this intersection will be as follows:

--Westbound 24th Street through traffic and left turns from westbound 24th Street onto southbound 22nd Drive/storage facility entrance.

--Westbound and eastbound through traffic on 24th Street.

--Eastbound 24th Street through vehicles and eastbound left turns onto northbound 22nd Drive, if a left-turning vehicle is present.

The overall project includes roadway improvements such as new curb, gutter and sidewalk. It also includes median modifications at 21st Drive, Camino Barranca and the Albertsons driveway.

Traffic control will be in place between Camino Alameda and Avenue B, and left turns from 24th Street onto 21st Drive may be restricted at times.

AVENUE A WIDENING: Motorists should avoid night travel on Avenue A between 16th and 24th streets as complete closures will occur between midnight and 6 a.m. some weekdays to allow paving work to be done as part of the street widening project, city officials say.

Currently, Avenue A is scheduled to be closed at the south portion of the intersection with 16th Street overnight this week Monday through Friday.

Also, Avenue A is closed overnight at 20th Street, and work will progress northward for several blocks as utility work is completed. Additionally, a closure at 22nd Street may be possible in the upcoming week or two. Motorists are encouraged to use 4th Avenue or Avenue B for north-south through traffic.

Additional closures may be required on weekends as well.

At present, travel on 16th is reduced to one lane in each direction at Avenue A during the daytime hours. Motorists who cannot avoid this intersection are urged to allow more time to compensate for delays.

On Avenue A during daytime hours, the right northbound lane is closed and the center turn lane is 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, city officials say.

As part of this project, access between 16th Street and 11th Avenue will be cut off north of 16th Street. This will be a permanent traffic control change. Also, 20th Street is closed east of Avenue A for underground infrastructure construction.

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 and 24th and a water main improvement just south of 24th. The rough estimate for completion is by Thanksgiving week.

CARVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD RECONSTRUCTION: Magnolia Avenue will be open to local traffic only or reduced to one lane at times between 5th and 8th streets. For north-south travel between 1st and 8th streets, use Avenue A or Avenue B.

The Carver Park neighborhood street replacement and reconstruction project is bounded by the West Main Canal on the north, Avenue A on the east, 8th Street on the south and Magnolia Avenue along the west.

Construction is expected to be completed by fall.

32ND STREET WATER LINE RELOCATION: The right westbound through traffic lane of 32nd Street has been closed between Pacific Avenue and Avenue 2-1/2E due to the expansion and relocation of an existing water line along 32nd Street. Additional work is expected in the northwest corner of Pacific Avenue and 32nd Street.

The existing pipeline is located in the area where ADOT will be putting in some new storm retention basins in front of the Yuma County Fairgrounds.

Most of the work is off the street. This project is expected to be complete by August.

8TH STREET -- 7TH TO 8TH AVENUES: Lane reductions will occur on 8th Street between 7th and 8th avenues and approaching both avenues for work by APS through Friday. Motorists are asked to observe message boards and traffic control devices.

AVENUE B AT 32ND STREET: APS will conduct a power line crossing across Avenue B north of 32nd Street in the upcoming weeks that will result in a temporary closure of Avenue B.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officers will assist in traffic control.

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