The Oro Valley Town Council, during its March 20 meeting, approved using $400,000 in leftover funds from the La Cañada mill and overlay project to improve a temporary dirt path along Shannon Road between Naranja and Tangerine roads. The funds will be used to create a dust-free, two-lane local road with a cape seal surface and a separated multi-use path (MUP) for pedestrians and cyclists.
Council votes on March 20 to repurpose funds
The Oro Valley Town Council, during its March 20 meeting, approved using $400,000 in leftover funds from the La Cañada mill and overlay project to improve a temporary dirt path along Shannon Road between Naranja and Tangerine roads. The funds will be used to create a dust-free, two-lane local road with a cape seal surface and a separated multi-use path (MUP) for pedestrians and cyclists.
Project funding comes from significant budget savings
The La Cañada Drive mill and overlay project was completed on November 15, 2024, under budget by $594,243.57. Town staff requested $400,000 of these funds for the Shannon Road improvements, which will cover design, grading, compaction, and cape seal treatment on the new roadway and MUP. Shannon Road currently transitions from a two-lane paved roadway to an unmaintained dirt path; long-term plans under the RTA Next plan envision a $23.4 million widening and paving project.
The path was initially created during the installation of a water line and has since become a shortcut for vehicles, raising dust and creating safety issues for residents. Several residents spoke in support of the improvement, sharing concerns about dust, emergency vehicle access, and pedestrian safety. They noted that emergency responders previously had difficulty locating homes in the area and that current traffic conditions pose hazards to both residents and students from nearby Ironwood Ridge High School.
Town engineer calls this an opportunity for safety improvements
Town Engineer Paul Kiesler described the project as an opportunity to use leftover funds efficiently and improve safety. The project also reduces emergency response times by creating a direct route that eliminates a three-mile detour. The temporary roadway will be posted at 25 mph and serve as a local collector connection until the planned arterial project is built, pending RTA Next funding approval.
A road built for light use may face heavy traffic
The town plans to build the Shannon Road connection using a cape seal surface — a treatment designed for light to moderate traffic on local roads. This approach combines a chip seal and slurry seal to create a smooth, dust-free surface but is not meant to withstand heavy, sustained traffic over long periods. Now that the road will connect Tangerine Road to lower Shannon, it is likely to see significantly more use, including school traffic and deliveries. Resident Ryan Broom expressed this concern, stating the road is already a traffic problem: “The town has created a major nuisance... We have a huge high-speed thoroughfare connecting a state route to a high school.” His comment highlights the tension between a cost-effective short-term solution and the reality of heavier long-term use.
Vice mayor objects... This project was never planned...Funds could be saved for projects that are already in the town's capital improvement plan
However, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett abstained from the vote, voicing several concerns. She questioned the use of these funds for a project that was not part of the town’s planned capital improvement projects and noted that the proposed road surface could be temporary until a larger road project is potentially funded through RTA in several years. Barrett also recalled past opposition from residents to making Shannon Road a through street, expressing uncertainty about current resident sentiment. She requested more time to evaluate whether this was the best use of funds compared to other capital needs. No other Council Member objected.
Council moves forward despite Barrett's concerns
Despite these concerns, the council voted 6-0 to approve the project, with Barrett abstaining. The project will move forward with design and construction planned for this budget year.
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