With Arizona Department of Transportation’s highway construction project on U.S. 60 slated until early 2026, adjustments are being made by local drivers, travelers, and business owners alike. The Santee Street to U.S. 70 Pavement Rehabilitation project began in late August.
“Crews have begun replacing curb access ramps and repairing sidewalks and curbs,” says Garin Groff, ADOT Public Information Officer. “Also, work has begun on bridge deck repairs throughout the project limits.”
Meanwhile, local businesses and employees are weighing the impact of the project.
“I don’t think it has affected our business much,” says Deshein, who works at the McDonald’s along the project route. “Things have still been pretty busy.”
“I think to a point it does [affect business]. This is a travel town,” another employee adds. “Business could be better. We’ve had four people who have had flat tires. People are supposed to be driving slowly, not going 80 through town.”
Those who have had tire damage from the project have been referred to Granite Construction Company that is carrying out the work.
Local resident Jessica Garcia stated that both of her daughter’s car tires had holes ripped in them in the area just west of McDonald’s, and that they were aware of multiple other cars with damage. She said that they had been reaching out to the construction company, but hadn’t been able to make contact and weren’t receiving any calls back.
Jonathan Croyle, project manager with Granite Construction Company, says that they had been milling (removing part of the surface of the paved area) at the McMillan Bridge near Denny’s and the milling went deeper than they thought, so it did create some potholes that they did not anticipate, and that they did go back and fill it with cold patch.
He added they did hear from one person whose tires were damaged in that area, and said that person had been referred to their human resources department for compensation.
Croyle said they were unaware of any other cases. He added that the construction sites do have signs with 25 mile per hour speed limit signs around them, but the roadwork is also becoming damaged because people are hitting the areas too fast.
He said they see them going through at “40, 50, and 60 miles per hour.”
Anthony Avalos, manager at Big O Tires, said they had eight vehicles come in with tire damage from the construction zone, and they all the had the same type of damage, which was ripped flaps on the sidewall.
He said he would guess it was from “something metal or a sharp edge” which he thinks would happen regardless of speed. He also mentioned that Blue’s Kustom and Fabrication had been working on some damaged vehicle tires as well.
A local business owner who asked not to be named says she hopes the construction is done as soon as possible. Her husband points out that the speed limit wasn’t lowered around every project zone, and that on some parts of the road, drivers are still reaching 50 miles an hour.
They watched one car “jump the bump” on the overpass.
“You have to slow down; the worst part is no precautions or lowered speed,” she says.
The public can expect work to continue Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pedestrians should anticipate sidewalk restrictions. Motorists should anticipate intermittent daytime lane restrictions. Paving work will occur at night time later this year, with lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Sundays night through 6 a.m. Fridays.
To learn more and subscribe for project updates, visit: https://azdot.gov/us60-santee-us70-paving.
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