Pima Road Improvements: Pinnacle Peak Road to Happy Valley Road

Pima Road – 38,700 vehicles per day (VPD) (2020), Projected 70,000 VPD (2040)

On Pima Road the speed limit is expected to be revised to 45mph from the currently posted speed which is 50mph

Yes, the current design includes “NO ENGINE BRAKING” signs in the southbound direction.

Yes, a raised landscaped median island will be constructed on Pima Road.

The City has determined that the sidewalk on the west side of Pima Road will be constructed with the project and the multi-use trail on the east side will be deferred until development occurs. The sidewalk and multi-use trail are consistent with the City’s arterial street typical section for this part of the city, so they are not being considered for changes at this point in the project.

A dedicated left turn lane will be constructed for northbound Pima Road traffic to turn left to westbound Chama Road. We are also planning to install a refuge in the median island for eastbound Chama Road traffic to pull out and safely merge onto northbound Pima Road traffic.

The city performed a noise study comparing rubberized and conventional asphalt and determined that there were no noticeable differences in noise abatement. Because rubberized asphalt costs significantly more than conventional asphalt and deteriorates approximately twice as fast, Scottsdale no longer uses it. Pima Road will be completely resurfaced with new asphalt pavement which provides a noise reduction of 3-5 decibels.

For projects that expand the capacity of roadways the City does a full noise analysis of the project limits. Existing noise levels are gathered to calibrate the model and existing and proposed traffic volumes are used to predict the noise levels that will occur after the project is constructed.

There will be an additional sound barrier installed along Pima Road and the roadway will be completely resurfaced with new asphalt pavement which provides a noise reduction of 3-5 decibels.

The existing wall is a private improvement on private land; if it’s not in the way of the City’s improvements, there would be no reason for the project to incur the added expense of removing the private improvement.

The Pima Road project includes the construction of a regional drainage channel along the east side of the project to direct stormwater runoff that currently crosses Pima Road further to the south in to the into the existing channel constructed with a previous project south of Pinnacle Peak Road. This will help divert the large majority of stormwater runoff that crosses Pima Road today, but it will not eliminate it completely. A certain amount of water from the channel will be diverted to the west side of Pima Road to mimic the existing stormwater patterns but at much lower volumes that what currently exists today.

The channel is currently planned to blend into the natural environment as much as possible. The alignment has a slight meander to it and it will have a sandy bottom similar to the existing washes that are within the project limits.

Construction on Pima Road will take place concurrently with construction on Happy Valley Road, and both projects are tentatively slated to begin in the Summer of 2022.

For Pima Road we have prepared construction phasing plans to limit disruptions to the traveling public. We have also detailed our box culverts proposed for the project to be precast to expedite the widening of the roadway. Construction will take approximately 18-24 months to complete. It should be noted that utility relocations necessary to construct the project may be constructed in advance and that is not included in the time estimate above.

In general, the project will seek to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction on Pima Road. While no long-term closures are anticipated, short term closures may be necessary, and will be authorized only when it has been determined to be in the best interest of the project.

Yes, these two projects can be constructed separately. However, the city anticipates multiple benefits from combining the projects into one construction contract, including a reduced overall duration for the construction process.