Sahuarita Rd Phase II (CMAR)
The project widened the existing rural two-lane Sahuarita Road to a new urban four-lane divided roadway between La Villita Road and Country Club Road (approximately two and a half miles). Improvements included a raised median, bicycle lanes, concrete curbs, sidewalks, drainage improvements, low-maintenance landscaping, and irrigation.
The project also included a two-mile realignment of Nogales Highway (one mile north and south of Sahuarita Road) to establish a new intersection location that reduced conflicts with the existing railroad tracks and better accommodated future development in the area. The existing two-lane Nogales Highway was widened to four lanes (with a raised median in the vicinity of Sahuarita Road), including bicycle lanes, sidewalks, low-maintenance landscaping, and irrigation.
Project Recognition/Awards:
The project received two regional partnering awards, each recognizing the spirit of cooperation amongst the project team:
- 2014 Timothy M. Ahrens Partnering Award, presented by Pima Association of Governments/Regional Transportation Authority
- 2014 Common Ground Award (Public Works), presented by Metropolitan Pima Alliance
Community Benefits
Through the Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) delivery method, the Town, Borderland and the designer worked together to improve a major roadway – on schedule and under budget – that will benefit the community for decades. The project improved mobility for regional traffic (between interstate-19 and State Route 83), improved access for local traffic (neighborhoods, businesses, schools, etc.), and accommodates future development plans in the area.
Project Details
Location: Town of Sahuarita, Pima County, Arizona
Guaranteed Price: $34.0 M
Construction Cost: $32.0 M
Owner: Town of Sahuarita, Public Works Department
Project Delivery: CMAR
Scope: 4.5 miles of new roadway, two new Santa Cruz River bridges, soil cement bank protection, two railroad crossings, signalized intersection, drainage culverts, bike lanes, sidewalk, landscaping, and irrigation
“We encountered Borderland as a trustworthy partner, willing to go the extra mile to reach the goals and very responsive to railroad related requirements, safety and needs as applying to these projects. Due to Borderland’s commitment we completed our portion of the work on time, on budget without the smallest error.”
ALEXANDER POPOVICI, UPRR – MANAGER INDUSTRY & PUBLIC PROJECTS
Features
- (2) new two-lane Sahuarita Road bridges crossing the Santa Cruz River
- Each bridge is 42’ wide and 531’ long (four-spans of AASHTO Type VI pre-cast/pre-stressed girders)
- Soil cement bank protection and grade control structure
- Bridge structures accommodate existing and future-use utilities
- (2) new signalized public at-grade railroad crossings
- Also included a third interim/detour crossing that accommodated daily train traffic during construction of the new Sahuarita Road
- New signalized traffic intersection (Sahuarita Road/Nogales Highway)
- Multiple drainage improvements including soil cement bank protection, graded channels, rip-rap bank protection, reinforced concrete pipes (RCP), and reinforced concrete box culverts (RCBC – both cast-in-place and pre-cast)
- Wildlife features – fencing installed to direct wildlife to cross under roadway via upsized drainage structures
- Dusk-to-dawn intersection lighting at (3) locations
- New flashing yellow light solar assembly – installed at farm equipment roadway crossing
- Various underground utility relocations/installations, including future-use facilities and sleeves for future development