News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Water line work to tie up downtown Tempe
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
In Tempe, the road to a successful downtown soon will be under construction. The installation of a 24-inch water line in the downtown area and adjacent to Arizona State University is expected to create delays, perhaps detours, for pedestrians and motorists alike.
This $4.8 million project is necessary, city water utilities manager Don Hawkes said, in anticipation of new developments in the downtown area creating a greater demand for water.
 |
"And, as part of our infrastructure renewal program, this is a line that came up on the list of lines to replace," Hawkes added.
Work on the first segment, east of Mill Avenue, begins Oct. 18 and is expected to wrap up by mid-December. The roads affected are: Myrtle Avenue from the base of Tempe Butte south to Fifth Street, east to Forest Avenue, and south to just north of University Drive.
The second segment, to the west and south of ASU's campus, is scheduled for a Jan. 5 start and April ending. The work will run on Mill south of University, turn east at 13th Street/Apache Boulevard and end at Normal Avenue.
Full street closures are not expected, Hawkes said, and local access will be maintained for residents, businesses, pedestrians and emergency vehicles. However, there may be restrictions on on-street parking and sections of sidewalk.
Construction hours will be from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, although there may be work done on nights and weekends. The contractor is Pierson Construction of Tempe.
Timing the work schedule with a busy downtown area is tricky, Hawkes said.
Closest to downtown, everything must be finished by late December. This is because of the debut of light rail on Dec. 27, plus college football's Insight Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl Block Party, both of which take place on New Year's Eve.
As for the second segment, Pierson vice president Russell Moore said he must take into consideration the block party and bowl game, the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon (Jan. 18), the Tempe Festival of the Arts (March 27-29) and events at ASU's Gammage Auditorium.
More information
Anyone with questions or concerns about this project can call the 24-hour construction hotline at (602) 264-6416.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: