Carefree Truth
Issue #779, October 7, 2019

Gary Neiss explained that the streets are the biggest community asset and the biggest liability.  Carefree has over 55 linear miles (110 lane miles) of public streets.  The best maintenance practice is to extend asphalt life by studying the specific levels of distress and matching the appropriate applications.

The Town will be using microsurfacing, the strongest surface available.  The streets project Phase 1 started last spring, piggybacking on Scottsdale's public contract.  Phase 2 will begin shortly, again piggybacking on Scottsdale's contract, saving significant money.  Phase 1 covered approximately 25% of the public streets, and a more uniform look was created.  Phase 2 will include the residential streets in Carefree One, Carefree Too, Carefree Fore, Carefree Fore More , and part of the Town Center.  Downtown streets will be worked on after business hours, which is standard practice.  Construction access streets for the Hampton Inn and the townhomes in downtown Carefree will be done later.  When completed, it will cover about 40% of the public residential streets and part of the downtown.

The overall cost of Phase 2 of the project is $435,000.  Including a 10% contingency, the final figure to be approved is $478,500.  Work in the residential neighborhoods would begin in October.  Town Center work would begin in mid November.  Based on weather, all work is anticipated to be finished in December.  Final striping will take place in December/January.  The entire project is expected to take another 2 years to complete.


Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked how much the Town is saving by piggybacking on Scottsdale's contract.  Mr. Neiss said about 20%.  Mr. D'Aliesio replied that's substantial, close to $100,000.  Mayor Les Peterson noted that the ability to piggyback on that contract expires at the end of the year, which is driving the timeline, as it did last spring.  Vice Mayor John Crane noted that the 10% contingency was used during Phase 1 because last spring some drivers ignored the barricades, driving on pavement that was not fully cured, so those areas had to be resurfaced.


The Council unanimously voted to approve the Preventative Maintenance contract with VSS International.  Mayor Peterson thanked Mr. Neiss for his continued good efforts.

https://vimeo.com/364213102


Lyn Hitchon


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