Council Greenlights Enhancements to Andante Path

The Sedona City Council has approved a significant contract of $3,032,684 with Pronghorn Services, aimed at constructing a much-anticipated shared use path along Andante Drive. This decision came on April 22, despite a recent surge in costs.

Assistant Director of Public Works, Sandra Phillips, clarified that approximately $1.5 million of the budget is allocated for the path itself, while the remainder will address various additional improvements. Although the city received six bids for the project, the lowest offer from Summit Construction was deemed incomplete, prompting staff to opt for Pronghorn Services’ bid instead.

Originally budgeted at $1,540,000, the 2,480-foot concrete path will run from State Route 89A to Thunder Mountain Road. The construction plan includes essential storm drainage infrastructure along with a one-and-a-half-inch conduit. Phillips emphasized that this design minimizes impacts on surrounding neighborhoods, particularly with the potential future addition of Wi-Fi.

The path will be constructed on the west side of Andante Drive, crossing to the east before connecting with Thunder Mountain Road. A raised crosswalk will facilitate safe pedestrian access while retaining the existing street width of 24 feet. However, this venture will lead to the removal of approximately eight trees within city limits.

The proposal includes a raised crosswalk and two speed bumps to manage traffic. However, due to cost considerations, the current contract only provides for the construction of one speed hump, raising questions among council members about its necessity.

Mayor Scott Jablow questioned the necessity of spending on a single hump, to which Andy Dickey, Assistant City Manager, explained the complexities involved in their construction.

Concerns from the community later emerged regarding the project’s transparency. Duane Gregory expressed that residents were only recently informed about design changes, which diminished opportunities for public input. He proposed relocating the crosswalk for better visibility and suggested reducing the path width to mitigate flooding risks.

Terry Gregory highlighted a lack of communication from city officials regarding the Sedona Fire District’s involvement in the design planning, stating that fire marshals were unaware of the project until recently. Both Gregorys urged city officials to pause the project for redesign considerations.

Despite these community concerns, Phillips assured that no substantial changes occurred from initial to final design stages, and drainage improvements would be minor. Community comments reflected a mix of sentiments, with some residents expressing excitement for the long-awaited project, while others raised issues about pedestrian safety and path placement.

After deliberation, Councilwoman Melissa Dunn reiterated the council’s commitment to community safety and mobility improvements. Council members ultimately voted unanimously to approve the contract, including the additional speed bump, with construction expected to begin within the month and wrap up by the end of the year.