Improvements to US 89 and Haul Road intersection have begun

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has started on the reconstruction of the intersection of US 89 and Haul Road in Page to alleviate traffic congestion near the Walmart Supercenter.

Work will include constructing a large, two-lane roundabout that will allow oversized vehicles, including house boats, to safely pass through the intersection. A traditional signalized intersection would not allow for safe passage for oversized vehicles, which is common to the Lake Powell/Page region, because the signals would hang too low and would limit the size and height of tall and oversized vehicles/house boats traveling through the intersection.

Additional improvements will include a raised median, new sidewalks and ramps, new street lighting, signage and lane striping, and improved drainage.

“Building a roundabout at this intersection is the best solution to enhance safety and operational characteristics of the existing intersection,” said ADOT Flagstaff District Engineer Audra Merrick. “The roundabout design will accommodate the larger oversized vehicles hauling house boats to the Lake Powell area, which is critical.”

In an effort to expedite the project and improve safety at the US 89 intersection at milepost 547, ADOT committed additional funding to move the project forward by including it in the state’s 2015-2019 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.

The $2.3 million improvement project in Coconino County will include partial funding from Walmart, which agreed to construct a roundabout or other traffic control mitigation measure prior to its opening in 2006.  

Initial work will not affect mainline US 89 traffic and will be limited to drainage features and access roads near businesses in the area.

Once construction starts on the roundabout, one lane of traffic in each direction will remain open and access to businesses will be maintained via frontage road detours to minimize conflicts.

The project is expected to take up to eight months to complete.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.