On July 8, the Prescott City Council heard a presentation discussing the Highway 89 effluent line improvements and widening project and opened a 60-day public comment period.
Kimley-Horn and Associates LLC has been working on the design since November 2024. The improvement effort includes replacing the effluent main, replacing the gravity sewer main and expanding a two-mile stretch of the highway between the Phippen and Willow Lake roundabouts.
Three separate alternatives were discussed during the presentation:
- 3B: Widening the highway to five lanes, implementing two new roundabouts and right-outs;
- 5B: Widening the highway to five lanes. The Narrows would feature four lanes and a median barrier. This plan also includes two roundabouts and right-outs, and
- 2B: Two roundabouts and right outs, no additional highway lanes.
Kimley-Horn recommended option 3B as the best plan based on a response from a citizen-based advisory group. If 3B were to be selected, it would have a total cost of $36.7M. The design team was able to provide a cost breakdown.
Roadway improvements would be the most expensive element, with a valuation of $14.8M. The second most significant cost was “general costs” which came in at $9.3M. Utilities improvements were estimated at $8.8M, and rock removal is estimated to be $3.9M.
It would take approximately 16 months to construct. During construction, two lanes of traffic would be able to run through Highway 89.
Option 3B was also said to be the most sustainable pathway in terms of dealing with traffic. The design team said it would provide a solid handle on traffic capacity until 2050.
Both Council members and the public have stressed the importance of keeping Highway 89’s capacity high, as it would be a key route to evacuate Prescott in case of wildfire.
Residents were able to speak during a public comment period and listed concerns surrounding eminent domain, traffic and cost.
The Highway 89 project will return to Prescott City Council during a public hearing on Aug. 26. The next public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9, which is the end of the newly opened public comment period. (Source)
