New stretch of road to get art

Special to the Green Valley News

An art museum may be a dream for Green Valley but roadwork designed to upgrade East Frontage Road between Exit 56 at Canoa Road to Exit 63 at Continental Road will feature relief artwork as part of the overall plan.

The Community Action Committee, a subcommittee of the Regional Transportation Authority, met Tuesday with a project update and the latest approved art design.

Pima County Department of Transportation Project Manager Damon Ballesteros said construction will include widening East Frontage Road with shoulders on north and southbound lanes and extending the lanes from The Springs south to Canoa Road.

Currently there are no lanes south of The Springs where construction is expected to be easier without traffic.

There also will be a traffic light to alleviate the difficult left turn upon exiting East Frontage Road on to Continental.

“Pas relief” art in the form of eight-foot concrete designs of creosote flowers will grace the retaining walls. Project artists Juan and Patty Navarette of Santa Fe created the design incorporating the area’s cultural and indigenous influences.

Patty said that while coming up with the design the overall thought was, “How can we maximize the visual experience.”

The eight-foot squares of creosote flowers will be unfinished gray concrete done in a two-inch pas relief style to appear sculptural.

Ballesteros said one percent of the construction budget is being allocated be for artwork, about $150,000.

“We’re getting closer and closer; it’s been a long road,” he said.

The final set of approved plans is scheduled for April 20 with construction on Continental to begin late May or early June through October, when many residents are away, traffic is light and the community experiences less traffic impacts.

While one lane from Continental to The Springs is closed, a “pilot car” will lead several vehicles at a time north or south in the open lane.

“Contractors are hungry for work and bids coming in are very favorable. Thirty-two sets of plans have been picked up by contractors and sub-contractors; two are from Phoenix,” Ballesteros said. The project is estimated to take 18 months.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.