The Town of Sahuarita (TOS) has completed work on a new traffic signal at the entrance to La Posada at Continental/Old Nogales Highway and South Park Centre Avenue. The improvement will significantly reduce delays for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles alike, and establish a safer area for all travelers. The new signal replaced an intersection that was previously controlled by a four-way stop.
“We’re happy to have been able to provide this improvement to benefit our town and regional infrastructure,” Mayor Tom Murphy said. “It’s indicative of the kind of partnership and mutual benefit we envision having with La Posada in the many years to come.”
TOS Project Manager Paul Burton noted that the project was completed by a team of eight professionals under the leadership of Town Manager, Kelly Udall. The town enlisted the help of Kittelson & Associates to help design the project with P.A.C.E. serving as the electrical contractor and Southern Arizona Asphalt completing the paving work.
Burton said that although the project experienced a major setback due to flooding in the Midwest last spring (the region where many steel signal poles are fabricated) the project moved forward steadily, and finished only nine days behind schedule. The design phase of the project dates back to December of 2018.
“I’m excited to have managed this project for the Town of Sahuarita Public Works Department,” Burton said. “And [I’m] thrilled to see that people can now safely travel through the intersection without the long delays they used to experience.”
In addition to the obvious change in appearance at the intersection, Burton said that there are many less apparent features that will be beneficial to residents traveling in the area. These include a half-mile of new pavement, shoulder improvements, seeding of native wildflowers, the addition of left and right turn lanes, intersection lighting, and a pre-emption system for facilitating the easy flow of police, fire and ambulance vehicles in the event of an emergency.
“La Posada residents and staff have expressed appreciation for the new traffic light at our entrance,” said La Posada CEO, Joni Condit. “Not only does the intersection look great, but the light and left hand turn lanes add to improved flow and safety. Pedestrians have also reported feeling safer crossing. The new traffic light is just one of the many benefits of being annexed into Sahuarita!”