Skip to main content

Q: Are regional planning organizations, tribes, for profit entities or non-profits eligible for the AZ SMART Fund?

A: The enabling legislation restricts applicants to Arizona cities, towns and counties within certain population parameters. For more information, see Current Population Estimates prepared by the Office of Economic Opportunity, Arizona Department of Administration.

During the rockfall mitigation work that will be occurring just north of Sedona city limits, will the blasting impact my property or the foundation of my home?

The blasting that is planned as a part of this project will only occur in small applications. This means the potential impact on any surrounding properties outside the blasting zone will be limited. In addition, the contractor will have a specialized team onsite to ensure the blasting does not impact any surrounding structures.

Where will drivers be able to turn around if their vehicle is too large to go through the construction zone?

There will be turnaround spots for drivers prior to the closure areas at the following locations:

South end of canyon:

  • Northbound drivers can turn around at the roundabout just north of uptown Sedona.
  • Southbound drivers can turn around near Purtymun Lane, just south of Sedona Views Bed and Breakfast.

North end of Canyon:

What if I have a medical emergency or there is a wildfire in the canyon while construction is underway?

Emergency access through the canyon will be maintained at all times for first responders and other emergency crews. First responders will be able to travel through the work areas as needed for medical or other emergencies. Regarding wildfires, there will be an emergency evacuation plan in place for canyon residents and businesses.

The closures and flagging operation will make it difficult for those of us in the canyon to get around. Why can’t construction be done without closures or fewer restrictions?

Unfortunately, since SR 89A is so narrow there is no room to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction through the work zones during construction. Thus, it is not possible to safely construct the improvements without some limited full closures and single lane restrictions. We recognize any restrictions on SR 89A corridor are going to be inconvenient; however, we have done our best to keep the closures to a minimum and limit the overall impacts.

Why can’t closures/work be done at night or during the winter when traffic is so much lower?

Due to the type of work involved and nature of the narrow corridor with steep slopes, having the contractor work at night or during the winter when there is the possibility of ice and snow is both hazardous and much more costly. The blasting work at the south end of the project cannot be completed at night, as this would impose unacceptable safety risks to construction crews and the public. There is also some work, such as paving, that must be done in certain temperatures. In the Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona area, we typically shut down work during the winter due to the weather conditions.

How will we be notified of full closures?

ADOT will notify the public seven calendar days in advance through roadside message boards and traffic alerts via email. The best way to stay informed is to sign up to receive traffic alerts, which will be emailed directly to your inbox. Visit the project web page to sign up. In addition, ADOT will post traffic restriction and closure information on the project website and via social media, and will provide regular updates to HOAs, businesses and other stakeholders in the canyon so they can share the information with others in the canyon.

Subscribe to