CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON SCHULTZ CREEK DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AT US HWY 180
The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Banicki Construction, will start construction on the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements at US Hwy 180 in April. The project will include the installation of a new concrete box culvert under US Hwy 180 and is scheduled to be substantially complete by July 1 to help mitigate flooding before the 2024 monsoon season. Final project activities such as repaving of the highway and re-establishing nearby landscaping will be completed by Aug. 1.
Traffic control operations will be setup on US Hwy 180 between W Stevanna Way and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church at the earliest on April 1 and remain until Aug. 1. Both lanes will remain open with speeds reduced to 25 mph around the construction zone. Construction activities will take place from Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., though these hours may change throughout the duration of the project. The Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) trail segment paralleling US Hwy 180 will remain open for the entirety of the project, with a detour implemented during one phase of the project.
Funding for the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements project was provided through an appropriation from the State of Arizona during the 2023 legislative session. Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett said “the completion of this project will be a huge relief for the surrounding neighborhoods and residents that experienced terrible post-wildfire flooding. Flagstaff is so grateful for this funding and would like to thank Representative Cook, Representative Marshall and Senator Rogers for making this project possible.”
The Pipeline Fire occurred in June 2022 and burned portions of the Schultz Creek and Chimney watersheds. Post-fire flooding impacted the City of Flagstaff during the 2022 monsoon season, and caused catastrophic damage, including flooding on Stevanna Way and in Coconino Estates due to inadequate culvert sizing at US Hwy 180. A temporary emergency culvert was installed by ADOT in spring of 2023 due to land subsidence in the area, however the capacity of the new pipe is still insufficient to convey expected post-fire monsoon flows. The installation of the new box culvert will alleviate both the post-fire flood threat from the Pipeline Fire (2022) as well as substantially reduce, or remove, the existing FEMA special flood hazard area for the nearby neighborhood.