The resident turnout was anemic with approximately 15 residents in attendance, despite a heavy marketing effort on the part of ADOT, the City of Sedona, and the Chamber.  Residents might feel that they have no control over the construction process but, as stated by Jennifer Wesselhoff, President of the Sedona Chamber, residents need to "buy in" to the notion that being positive and shopping locally is the best way to keep Sedona economically viable during the construction.

Said Mayor Pud Colquitt, "[Phase 2] is going to be stressful.  There are going to be good days, bad days, and horrible days."  She went on to say that residents need to understand and be prepared that not only will the construction disrupt daily activities but, in the end, SR 179 is going to look much different than it does now.  Said Mayor Colquitt, "The road is going to be much wider, and residents need to be prepared for that."

According to ADOT, the SR 179 highway is currently about 24 feet wide; 12 feet in each lane.  After construction, a median will divide the lanes that could be as wide as 16 feet, and there will be 8 foot shoulders, and sidewalks running from the Village of Oak Creek to the "Y."

Said Mayor Colquitt, "Luckily, unlike Phase 1 in the Village, we're an incorporated City so residents have someone close by to complain to...[the City's] role is to partner with the Chamber and ADOT to ensure ongoing communication to residents and businesses.  We also have a police force."  Residents or businesses that wish to contact the City about the project, can email Assistant City Manager Alison Zelms at AZelms@sedonaaz.gov or call (928) 204-7120.

Jennifer Wesselhoff presented the Chamber's strategy to assist businesses during Phase 2 that will consist of a new marketing campaign called "Follow the Red Rock Road" that is intended to be fun, artistic, and positive. The logo for the campaign will consist of a road in the shape of a red "S" with Cathedral Rock in the background.

Draft signage incorporating javelina cartoon characters to help direct traffic during the Project 2 SR 179 construction phase. The proposed signage is conceptual only and subject to ADOT approval. Source: Sedona Chamber

A key component of the campaign will be clear and consistent signage to help tourists navigate through the construction. The signs will use six cartoon javelina characters: a shopper, an artist, a child, a chef, a spiritualist, and a hiker that will help direct tourists to different locations throughout the City.  Ms. Wesselhoff said using javelinas leverages the recent success of the "Javelinas on Parade" campaign where artistic and fun javelina statues were created and placed throughout Sedona.

The resident reaction to the javelina characters was not positive. Said one resident, "It's a bad idea.  It encourages people to feed and approach a dangerous animal."  Said another resident, "It's too cutesy.  We're not Disneyland, we're Sedona."  Instead, the residents suggested a roadrunner to tie in with the Sedona Roadrunner trolley that transports people between Hillside and Uptown.

Ms. Wesselhoff and Ms. Zelms noted that the signs would only be temporary during the construction phase.

Mary Schnack, Communications Manager for the ADOT Project Manager Team, reminded residents about the reasons for the Project 2 construction and the initial timetable.

Said Ms. Schnack, "SR179 was built in the 1930s as a forest service road, and the last time it was improved was 25 years ago.  Not only is it a means of transportation, but much of the City's utility lines are brought in along this road....It's the 'life blood' of Sedona."

Unfortunately, the highway has not kept up with the times.  There are no shoulders, no turning lanes, no scenic pull-outs, no sidewalks or bike lanes, and no intersection controls. Ms. Schnack said Project 2 is intended to correct all this.  As for street lighting, there will be four 90 foot light polls at each roundabout, and lower pedestrian lighting from Canyon Road to the "Y."

The current timetable to begin construction is February 2008, and is expected to last for 575 calendar days.  Special financial incentives are being provided to ADOT to maintain two-way traffic most of the time, and to finish off the business district, defined as Canyon Road to the "Y" (excluding the Oak Creek Bridge), before Thanksgiving 2008.  The Oak Creek Bridge will take more time because there will be a pedestrian bridge; and both the old bridge and new bridge will operate at the same time until the new bridge is wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic, at which time the old bridge will be demolished.  Residents can learn more by contacting Ms. Schnack at (928) 204-9834 or the ADOT hotline at (800) 529-2876.

Dates and times for the remaining forums:

Business Forum
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Resident Forum
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Meetings will be held at the Church of the Red Rocks, located at 54 Bowstring Drive.

Anyone from the public is welcome at either the business or resident forum and the same formal presentations will be made at both forums.

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