Signals AZ

$3 Million Glassford Hill Road and Long Look Drive Intersection Improvement Benefits Students

Tardies Drop by 10%, Traffic Problems Decreased, Costs Paid for by Development Fees

The three million dollar improvement to the intersection of Glassford Hill Road and Long Look Drive in Prescott Valley has successfully produced a decrease in the number of students reporting late to school at Bradshaw Mountain High while also resulting in a smoother flow of traffic both before and after school and specials events this past year.

The project extended the previous six lanes on Glassford Hill Road to nine with a doubling of lanes from three to six on Long Look Drive.

Tardies Drop by 10% and Traffic Problems Decreased

Bradshaw Mountain High School Principal Kort Miner, who has been at the school for nine years and recently completed his sixth year as principal, was thrilled with the improvements after continuing to witness both traffic and student late slips piling up due to the intersection issues.

“Like an 800-pound backpack taken off my shoulders,” Miner said during a phone interview. “It’s taken away the excuse of tardies, Now they just go ‘I’m sorry’.”

The school reported tardy slips fell 10% from the previous school year.

Recently graduated Bradshaw Mountain High School student John Jacob Knisely appreciated the upgrades after having issues driving himself to school during his junior year.

“Traffic was horrible, I was always late just because the traffic would be backed up,” Knisely said. “Now that the stop light is in there, traffic just goes by smoothly.”

Immediate Mobility and Safety Improvements

Town of Prescott Valley Public Works Director Norm Davis also witnessed improvements following the complete conclusion of the project.

“The feedback that you could witness in the field was immediate better mobility and safety at that intersection,” Davis said. “Any particular congestive problems during the school drop off and or pick-ups in the afternoons was basically non-existent.”

“We are not even getting the back-up on the main line that we used to see,” Davis continued. “We are getting people making good decisions whether to turn.

Costs Paid for By Development Fees – Growth pays for Improvements

Davis said the project was completely paid for by development fees. This money comes from the fees paid by new developments in the town.

“Growth pays for growth in Prescott Valley,” Davis said, mentioning subdivision and new homes have to pay a circulation fee to mitigate additional congestion. “We save up many impact fee paid by homes and we like to apply that.”

Construction on the project started in May and was generally finished before school started with a traffic signal being the final step completed in August.

“They really had it rocking and rolling,” Miner said.

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