Warm Springs Avenue, from the intersection with Barber Drive to the intersection of East ParkCenter Boulevard, will close at 9 a.m. on February 22, 2010 for up to eight weeks for utility work.

During the construction, traffic will be routed onto Barber Drive and Harris Ranch Road to access Warm Springs Avenue as a contractor for the Harris Ranch development installs sewer lines, storm drains and water lines.

Harris Ranch has agreed to the schedule and to pay penalties of up to $1,000 a day if the work runs late.

After the utilities are installed, Harris Ranch will replace the current rural road with a two-lane, urban road that has curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes, and center-turn and parking lanes. All work is being done by Harris Ranch and at the developer’s expense.

Under state law, ACHD must allow for utilities to be installed and serviced in the public right-of-way. The ACHD Commission allowed the closure to increase safety (because of the deep sewer trench) and to expedite construction. Options that may have allowed the road to stay open would have greatly extended the construction period, would have introduced safety concerns and were deemed to be an overall greater inconvenience to the public.

About 3,400 vehicles a day use this section of Warm Springs. Although the detour (see map) is open to trucks, truckers will be advised to seek other routes into the area during the construction.