By Rusty Bradshaw
Independent Newsmedia

Some very visible road work projects in Sun City are winding down, while others get a start.

Work on intersections at Union Hills Drive and 99th Avenue; and on Grand Avenue at 99th, 103rd, 107th and 111th avenues are complete or in their final stages. At the same time, Maricopa County Department of Transportation crews are beginning restriping and oiling projects.

Sun City Home Owners Association’s Roads and Safety Committee was updated on these projects during its March 15 meeting, in addition to hearing from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office District 3’s new commanding officer regarding parking enforcement within the community.

Road work

Arizona Department of Transportation crews are halfway through their efforts to repave major intersections along Grand Avenue.

ADOT crews have completed work at 99th and 103rd avenues and plan work on 107th and 111th in April. During that work — April 7-9 for 107th Avenue and April 21-23 for 111th Avenue — the intersections will be completely closed 9 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Sunday.

“While we schedule the closures to 9 p.m. Sunday, we work hard to be finished before that,” said Martin Pena, ADOT spokesman.

He said the intersections’ rubberized asphalt showed unusual wear and tear from the turning actions at each location. The repaving places fresh oil asphalt at the intersections. After completion, temporary striping is applied with regular paint, which are then repainted 30 days later with thermal paint for more permanent striping, according to Mr. Pena.

Sun City residents should see, finally, the completion of the Union Hills Drive and 99th Avenue reconstruction when they drive in the area. Bryan Pahia, MCDOT public information officer, said the area was closed March 17-19 for what was expected to be the last time for final repaving.

“This project should finally be done,” he said.

Due to unexpected utility work and several postponements due to weather, the project took about three months longer to complete than projected.

Restriping is being conducted on several Sun City streets, including 103rd Avenue and some of its tributary streets, according to Mr. Pahia. MCDOT crews are also oiling the surface of 111th Avenue.

Parking violations

The Sun Cities may be getting additional law enforcement patrols and programs as a result of changes at District 3.



Capt. Paul Chagolla, the new district commanding officer, said he is studying staffing changes that could increase the number of deputies available to address quality of life issues. The SCHOA committee, led by resident Jim Powell, continued a discussion of increased enforcement for parking violations, particularly parking on sidewalks and on the wrong side of the street.

“In all aspects of law enforcement, we need to be fair to all involved,” Mr. Chagolla said. “But, during a patrol, if we see something of imminent danger, we will act.”

He added the increase in population in the West Valley, both in residents and transients, have created increased problems to deal with.

Mr. Chagolla said he and District 3 staff are studying a traffic car program that will address only traffic issues.
“Right now that is in the design and implementation stages,” he said. “Once it is up and running, we will determine where it will focus.”



In terms of staffing needs, resident Art Jenkins, a SCHOA board member, suggested MCSO could access a ready resource.

“The Posse can be a good asset to help spot problems,” he said.

In regards to parking issues, Mr. Jenkins believes an educational process could solve much of the issue.

“When I patrolled with the Posse and saw someone parked on the sidewalk or on the wrong side, I would find the owner and talk to them,” he said. “Most times they did not realize they were causing a problem, or even that it was illegal.”

Changing signs

MCDOT officials will not be changing street signage any time soon in two areas o the community.

Roads and Safety Committee members advised SCHOA leadership to send a letter requesting the stop signs in the travel lanes on 103rd Avenue at Alabama Avenue and Sun City Boulevard be removed because they give the impression 103rd Avenue has two travel lanes when it does not.

Mike Albertson, of MCDOT’s traffic division, said it was unlikely those signs would be removed.

Likewise, a committee request to remove exception signs on “no parking” signs along the northbound lanes of 111th Avenue may not happen until after Easter, if at all. Committee members claim the exception signs allow drivers to park their cars in the right travel lane on 111th Avenue.

Mr. Albertson explained the stop signs and exception signs were placed where they are at the request of residents.

“We can remove them if we get the OK from residents in the area,” Mr. Albertson said.

He added MCDOT officials want to see what the parking patterns are for Easter because of three churches adjacent to 111th Avenue before making a decision on the exception signs.

When church parking lots fill up, other church visitors park in front of homes on 111th Avenue tributary streets. Those residents complained to MCDOT prompting the exception signs.

“We have the same kind of complaints about church parking in other areas of Sun City,” Mr. Albertson said.