Current project: Nighttime paving

The City of Sedona and contractor, Combs Construction Company, will pave State Route (SR) 89A throughout Uptown Sedona during the weeks of June 9 and June 16, 2025 with work occurring at night between 8 PM and 6 AM to minimize the impact to businesses and residents. The schedule is as follows:

  • Week of June 9: SR 89A, between Art Barn Road and Forest Road (in Uptown)
  • Week of June 16: SR 89A, between Forest Road (in Uptown) and the “Y” roundabout

Crews will be working in small sections each night to ensure SR 89A is reopened during daytime hours. Full lane and road closures will be in place during nighttime paving operations, with detour routes in place. Motorists will utilize Wilson Road, Schnebly Road and Owenby Way to bypass the closure areas.

Please note: at times, access to businesses via car will not be possible during certain periods of the nighttime work; direct outreach to those businesses is being conducted  with details about the impacts of construction.

Background: On April 22, 2025, City Council unanimously approved an increase of the original scope of work to the Uptown Road Improvements Project contract for paving SR 89A from Forest Road to Owenby Roundabout, in the amount of $684,178, which was increased from $230,100. The additional cost accounts for a more comprehensive paving method which will ensure the pavement is more durable to reducing future cracking.

Northbound improvements

The City proposed two separate efforts on SR 89A to reduce traffic congestion in Uptown. The project at Amara Lane is complete.

Northbound 89A and Forest Road

A left-turn lane, two northbound lanes, and a Shared Use Path running parallel to the road were added to northbound 89A between L’Auberge Lane and Forest Road. Combs Construction Company was selected as the contractor and work began at the end of November 2023.

As part of the city’s Sedona in Motion program, this project is being undertaken to reduce the northbound congestion along SR89A that often spills back to the “Y” roundabout and creates further congestion for both SR179 and northbound SR89A to Cooks Hill.

Other work included removing and replacing the existing curb and gutter along the east side of SR89A (between L’Auberge Lane and Forest Road), constructing a permanent barrier for the left turn lane onto Forest Road. The project also included removing parking spaces along the northbound lane of SR89A (between Forest Road and the Jordan Road Roundabout), adjusting traffic signal timing to improve traffic flow, new retaining walls, signage, landscaping and storm drain system upgrades along the project corridor.

Artist rendering showing an aerial view of proposed improvements to northbound 89A:

Uptown northbound 89A aerial view

Artist rendering showing a typical cross-section of proposed improvements to northbound 89A:

Uptown northbound 89A cross section

Northbound 89A at Amara Lane

The loading zone on 89A was replaced with a dedicated right turn lane into Amara Lane and the project is complete. Ongoing traffic studies have demonstrated an 18% efficiency improvement in traffic and pedestrian movement. Before the right-hand turn lane was established, cars wanting to turn right on Amara Lane had to wait for a break in pedestrian traffic, causing backups on northbound SR 89A. Now cars pull out of the through lane and into their own turning lane, so that northbound traffic can continue moving freely.

 

Southbound improvements

The Uptown Roadway Improvements Project began June 3, 2019 and was substantially complete on September 14, 2020. Southbound State Route 89A traffic was reduced by 80 percent. 

Uptown median concept

The project included:  

  • Decorative raised medians on 89A and a portion of Forest Road to direct pedestrians to controlled crossings and enhance the appearance of Uptown.
  • Addition of a southbound SR89A travel lane.
  • Turnaround points at the north and south ends of Uptown, including a Jordan Road roundabout. 
  • One-way access from 89A to free parking via Schnebly Road.
  • Pedestrian control and signal timing improvements at the intersection of SR89A and Forest Rd.

Uptown roadway improvements