Wick News Service
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The increased speed limit is due to a traffic study done by DMJM+Harris in accordance with Arizona Department of Transportation procedures for establishing speed limits, said Jackie Watkins, a county civil engineer, during Tuesday's meeting.
"In general the speeds at which people are driving on these roads are significantly higher than the posted speed limits," she said. "These roads were reviewed in part due to concerns expressed by citizens and the Cochise County sheriff's department."
Though the survey was done three years ago, she told the supervisors she did not have the opportunity to bring it before them sooner due to reduced staff.
The Double Adobe Road speed limit will be increased from 45 mph to 55 mph from Highway 80 north to Highway 191, with the exception of the intersections at Frontier Road and Central Highway.
For a distance before those intersections, the speed limit will remain 45 mph. Double Adobe Road is 14 miles long, with two lanes running through primarily agricultural land.
Charleston Road is also a two-lane that runs a total of 15 miles from Sierra Vista to Tombstone. The speed limit will be increased to 55 mph on most of the road. There will be a lowered speed limit before reaching the San Pedro River and before the Tombstone town limits.
Cascabel Road, a continuation of Pomerene Road, will be increased from 35 mph to 45 mph for the majority of its 12 miles. In the more developed areas, the speed will be 25 mph to 35 mph.
Pomerene Road was also in the study, but the limits will remain as posted.
In other highway business, the supervisors adopted the 2007-08 highway and floodplain work plan funded by Highway User Revenue Funds. Chip sealing of 180.71 miles of roads are included in the plan, as well as 12.83 miles of roads to be recycled and reconstructed and 2.4 miles of public/private partnership road work.
Two items on the agenda were tabled until Supervisor Paul Newman returned from vacation.
Speed limit to increase on Double Adobe, Charleston and Cascabel
One was the 602-lot subdivision on Highway 191 north of Pirtleville and west of Douglas city limits.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Searle and Supervisor Pat Call are concerned about the development's high density and want to wait for Newman's input.
Both of them also were surprised that no opposition to the subdivision had been encountered, and they want information on the city of Douglas' plans to annex the property.
The other tabled item was on the abandonment of public right of way on Avenue Q off Hidden Valley Road, as requested by Shirley Mac, who wants to split her 146-acre parcel, but has received opposition from a neighboring land owner.
In other business, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday:
€ Granted a 25-year water franchise for an area north of Whetstone to Sulger Water Co. #2, which is expanding service in the area.
€ Approved a basic service contract with SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization for one year in the amount of $21,796.
€ Approved the fiscal year 2008 Victims' Rights Program award agreement between the state Attorney General's Office and the Cochise County Attorney's Office.
€ Approved the Victim Assistance Grant Program and Victims of Crime Act award agreement between the Arizona Department of Safety and the Cochise County's Attorney's Office for the period of July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008.
€ Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Benson for the county's rural addressing division to assume some of the city's addressing responsibilities to ensure compatibility with the master street address guide and 911 emergency protocol.
€ Awarded a contract for inmate commissary services to Keefe Commissary Network as best meeting the county's needs and provide a sales commission of an estimated $23,500 annually.
€ Renewed a contract with Brown and White to repair and replace guardrail in the county for one year for the annual amount of $100,000.
€ Renewed a contract with Michael Strait and Associates LLC to provide staffing for county rural solid waste transfer stations for one year at a cost not to exceed $84,650.
County road projects
The following road projects were approved by the Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Chip-seal projects
€ Montebello - 10 mi
€ Bay Acres - 8.12 mi
€ Mountain Ranch Estates - 1.07 mi
€ Whetstone Mesas - 1.12 mi
€ Musgrave Addition - 1.75 mi
€ Village Meadows - 1.80 mi
€ Fry Townsite - 9.08 mi
€ Fort Grant Road - 18.6 mi
€ Dragoon Road (double chip) - 56.3 mi
€ Hereford Road - 31.76 mi
€ Chaparral Circle, Yucca Drive, East Foothills Drive - 1.09 mi
€ East Oak Street - 1.34 mi
€ Packing Plant Road - 2 mi
€ Leslie Canyon Road - 18.4 mi
€ Central Highway - 3 mi
€ Carr Canyon Road - 2.61 mi
€ Gleeson Road - 1.5 mi
Recycle/ reconstruct
€ Ocotillo Road - 3.73 mi
€ Davis Road - 9.1 mi
Public/private partnerships
€ Mountain Ranch Subdivision - 1.4 mi
€ West Camino de Mesa - 1 mi
Source: Cochise County
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