12/9/2012 9:36:00 PM
Editorial: SR 69 solution is a long way off
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Highway 69 that runs from Prescott all the way to Cordes Junction has a nefarious history. A stretch of the roadway has been called "Blood Alley." It was once just two lanes from Prescott Valley to the junction with Interstate 17, and a monster to travel.
When the Arizona Department of Transportation improved it more than a decade ago, locals vehemently opposed off-and-on ramps. Rather, they insisted on intersections that would allow them to travel back and forth across the highway. ADOT relented and one of the state agency's engineers later aptly called it "a failed highway." Highway 69 was initially meant for highway travel and not commuter traffic.
Over the years, traffic light after traffic light has gone up, impeding the flow of 50,000 cars and trucks each day as the population has steadily increased.
Highway 69 is, indeed, a failure that ADOT did not intend. And, there is no way around it that will make everyone happy.
ADOT conducted a public meeting last week for residents to learn about plans for a proposed Sundog Connector - a shortcut from Prescott to Prescott Valley. It would extend about three-and-a-half miles from the roundabout at Prescott Lakes Parkway in Prescott to the Sundog Ranch Road intersection in Prescott Valley.
Residents who said their property would be ill affected by the proximity of the connector expressed strong opposition at the public meeting, protesting the traffic noise it would cause, and the congestion on Sunrise Boulevard at Highway 69 that it would create. Those in opposition to the connector also believe that people who own the land the connector would traverse stand to profit from the project.
ADOT representatives said construction is years away - maybe even as many as 20 - because no money is earmarked to pay for it. After hearing the opposition, one ADOT official said, "I think it is important that the City of Prescott listen to the public as they move forward with the planning efforts."
If the Sundog Connector is so far from becoming reality, then the City of Prescott, which would build it, has plenty of time to listen to its citizenry.
But, one fact sticks out. Highway 69 is a nightmare to drive. Not everyone is going to like the solution to getting around it.
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Prescott Daily Courier
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December 9, 2012 00:37
Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Article comment by:
Two Ideas
Two ideas.
1. The "stub" at the end of Glassford and 89A can be extended to Chino Valley and take some pressure off of 89A and 89.
2. Put an overpass on HWY 69 through Mayer like they did on 89A. Instead of slowing down on 69 through that stretch, and dodging pedestrians going to Circle K, overpass it so traffic can flow and if folks want to go to Mayer, they can exit.
3. Widen 169 to 4 lanes instead of a proposed new road to Fain RD.
Yes, I said "Two Ideas" and gave three. Just goes to show that if you give two ideas, someone else will give a third. I decided to do it for that "someone else".
Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Article comment by:
Cory Saz
How is traveling on highway 69 so bad? I travel it on a regular basis, and it's fine. Slow down, be considerate of others and enjoy the drive. We don't need super freeways ever where we go!
Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Article comment by:
Planned to meet up with the existing road in Prescott?
Just asking, but are this geniuses going to take extra money and time on the section that will be going by the police shooting range, the Fire Dept. practice and training area and the pound and the trash depot? I mean, the fire dept burns buildings out there. What about the precious entrance to the precious hiking entrance? As soon as the hikers hear about the infringement on their sacred hike spot, they'll put a stop to it.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Sage advice
Didn't most of you old codgers move to Prescott to retire and slow down and soak up life??
Why the need to race all over town via the shortest route? Does the realization that your days on earth are running out cause you to feel a sense of urgency in your driving?
Slow down. Enjoy what time you have left. At the end of the day, nothing you are doing is more important than enjoying life.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
A. Wilson
The plan for the road and the general alignment has been around since the 1990s.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Hooty Hoo
Didn't they build Fain Road to bypass 69? I never drive 69 anymore. I hardly ever go the PV anymore either. There's nothing there I can't get in Prescott except movies. I rent those in 3D now.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
60 Grit
Highway 69 is a nightmare? Not by my standards. Downtown Flagstaff on a Friday afternoon in the summer -- now that's a nightmare. You want fast freeway travel -- then simply move down to Phoenix. While the new proposed connector would add useful route options, I don't see how it would change things much.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Gary Dean
Ya aint gonna make everyone happy! People complain about Hwy 69, people complain about a new road from PV to Prescott. People complain about everything they think might affect them and the Hell with everyone else. So, answer this, you residents who live in the back of Yavapai Hills,Who are you going to complain to when we get another big snowstorm and you can't get out to go shopping because the hill is too icy to climb. Wouldn't a road at the bottom of the canyon be a lot better than being stuck for a few days? And what about better access for emergency equipment and personnel? Bet none of you thought about that. But just wait until YOU have an emergency and can't get help. I can hear the screaming now. But, just as long as there is no road near your property, I guess you will be fine.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
You don't have to be any smarter than a 5th grader to say why? This "connector" has no practical value for residents or merchants only the land owners of the interior that would be opened up. Oh, a few people who live in the Lakes tract could use it as a short cut to a movie in PV. I have no doubt PV and Prescott's ruling class would support any road providing work and growth regardless of the waste of taxes. How about putting more into our schools and improving Arizona's public K-12 education? Everyone knows our roads are not crowded and our schools are.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Put Up A Parking Lot
The Sundog connector won't relieve traffic between Prescott and PV. Why would anyone go down Prescott Lakes Parkway to the roundabout and then circle around, over a hill, to Sundog? And visaversa coming the other way. All it will do is open up vast areas for development. Don't understand why the editor thinks it'll have anything to do with Sunrise Blvd?
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
Thinking ahead
The entrance was probably "stubbed" out to save time and money in the future. That stub could go anywhere. You'll see that feature in a lot of areas where the fourth road of an intersection wasn't there yet. It would cost more to add later so it's a good idea not that the cost is that much but anything helps in saving costs on road projects.
Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012
Article comment by:
There You Go Again
Once again, we are thinking of 'nice to do things' rather than what we taxpayers can afford.
Posted: Sunday, December 09, 2012
Article comment by:
It Would Seem . . .
. . . that the City of Prescott already has its decision in mind, since it has already stubbed out the entrance to Sundog Ranch Road connector at the roundabout on Prescott Lakes Parkway by the new Juvenile Detention Center.
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