River Bend Roadway Improvements

Dear River Bend Neighbors,

The River Bend Roadway Improvement Projects will ease traffic congestion along River Road and Dodge Boulevards, and enhance public safety throughout the River Bend area. Additionally, through the cooperation and participation of area neighbors with Pima County and the design team, this project will maintain the historic nature of the area while simultaneously creating a beautiful and usable public outdoor space for neighbors to enjoy.

The Pima County Department of Transportation (PCDOT), in conjunction with the design teams led by Castro Engineering, in conjunction with MMLA (River Road) and HDR/Johnson Brittain (Alvernon Way) are refining design concepts for these projects. We are also meeting regularly with the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the public to assure that community concerns are addressed and that the projects achieve their goals of alleviating congestion and safety issues, as well as achieving the goals of the surrounding community to preserve the beauty and history of the area and to maximize the use of natural areas.

The design phase completion is anticipated in April of 2004, with construction scheduled to begin in August of 2004. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 16 months to complete. Funding for the River Road improvements is $16,500,000, and bond funds allocated to Alvernon Way improvements in unincorporated Pima County is $6,000,000.

We thank all of the neighbors and community members who have attended the CAC and public meetings. The input offered on these projects is very valuable to our team and we welcome continued participation throughout the remainder of the design phase. A public meeting is planned for January 22, 2004, at which time we will be updating you on the current design plans for the River Bend Roadway improvements. We look forward to seeing you then.

Sincerely,
Pima County Department of Transportation
Patrick Buckley, P.E.
Project Manager