PRESCOTT - Kimley-Horn and Associates is designing the Williamson Valley Road widening project from Pioneer Parkway to Outer Loop Road.
Residents within the WVR corridor participated in an open house Thursday evening at Abia Judd Elementary School.
Project Manager Shannon Ahartz said the widening of Williamson Valley Road is at the preliminary design stage. He said Kimley-Horn used the five-lane design prepared by CivilTech.
"We are trying to communicate to the public the design process and the elements of the project," Ahartz said.
The engineering firm is designing a five-lane road with two lanes in each direction and a center turn lane.
Ahartz said the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization's regional transportation model is the basis for the engineering projections.
DeEtte Person from the public relations firm of Olson Communications said Thursday's open house was part of the public comment period.
"We want to hear what people have to say. Kimley-Horn took the plans from the previous project and has also conducted its own traffic study," Person said.
She said previous public comments changed the scope of the project. Person said Kimley-Horn added environmental studies, a scenic view analysis and trail development.
Person said the components of the project include roadway widening, corridor trails, scenic views, public involvement, traffic signals, area drainage, environmental studies, utility relocation, construction phasing and traffic control.
Ahartz said the county chose Kimley-Horn "in large part due to our experience with content sensitive design, as well as our commitment to public involvement."
Despite that commitment, the two Williamson Valley citizen action groups continue to protest a five-lane road.
"It is almost inconceivable that the county continues to refuse to look at more efficient and less costly options. It is an absolute travesty," Williamson Valley Corridor Plan President Ken Mino said. "The longer they wait, the more expensive the option will become."
Corral Dybas Group Landscape Designer Larry Sullivan said his firm is working to preserve the scenic views, make them better and to soften the impacts of the road.
"Our job is to show how to prevent the destruction of good scenic view if we can and enhance the driving experience," Sullivan said.
Kimley-Horn associate Dane Cooley said the firm is looking at the best way to implement public comments.
"We are looking at push-button controls, stop signs, traffic signals and even tunnels in high volume
areas," Cooley said.
Associate David Perkins said the traffic component starts with existing conditions.
"Since 2001 the volume has increased. In certain parts of the roadway, people are experiencing delays pulling onto the roadway. That tells us it is time to think about what to do next," he said.
Looking at the traffic study, resident Ray Stetling said, "My hope would be that the county would listen to people who actually live there."
Friends of Williamson Valley President Georgene Lockwood said, "We would like to go back to the two- and three-lane designs presented in 2004. I think we are being heard, but no one is listening. At the very least, we would like county officials to sit down and talk about other possibilities."
Ahartz said Kimley-Horn would move forward with the design, with a final design "sometime this winter. We could be looking at acquiring rights-of-ways next summer and starting construction in two years."
