Payson Roundup

Just as soon as you thought you wouldn’t have to wait in construction as the Payson to Pine project nears completion, the Arizona Department of Transportation announces they are beginning the Little Green Valley widening project.

Work on the $30 million project to widen 4.5 miles from Little Green Valley to Thompson Draw is expected to start this week and run through 2010.

ADOT has already widened three, four-mile sections of Highway 260 including Preacher Canyon, Kohl’s Ranch and Christopher Creek.

ADOT eventually hopes to widen Highway 260 from Payson to Heber to four lanes.

The latest project will link together the already completed Preacher Canyon and Kohl’s Ranch sections.

In addition to the divided four-lane highway, improvements to the highway will include: three new bridges, repairs to an existing bridge, application of a rubberized asphalt, additional elk fencing, new signage, striping and guardrails.

With construction just starting up on Highway 260, expect work on Highway 87 to finish in early 2010.

Crews have already blasted shoulders, widened the road and added some new guardrails, signs and turn lanes starting a mile north of The Home Depot roundabout and a mile south of Pine.

Starting Monday and running through Thursday, crews will close the southbound lanes of Highway 87 from Payson to Pine as they begin paving the roadway.

During paving operations, the highway will be closed to one lane starting at 6:30 a.m.