Residents and visitors are now able to drive on the newly completed Forest Road, a road that bypasses the “Y” roundabout if traveling to and from the Uptown area.
The project consisted of constructing a new two-lane roadway that connects the old terminus of Forest Road to a new intersection on State Route (SR) 89A, just west of the post office. Additional work included the installation of new concrete curb and gutter, retaining walls, utility infrastructure, landscape improvements and a new shared-use path. The new intersection at SR 89A will allow vehicles to enter the new connection from both directions on SR 89A and exit only right, towards West Sedona.
Project details
This project:
- Gives Uptown residents a way to bypass “the Y,” reducing traffic in those roundabouts
- Provides additional access to emergency responders; serves as an additional evacuation route
- Will allow vehicles to use a left-turn lane on northbound 89A to enter Forest Road west of the post office
- Will allow only right turns onto southbound 89A when exiting Forest Road west of the post office
- Has an estimated cost of $17.5 million
This new major road is one of the Transportation Master Plan’s Sedona in Motion projects, in addition to many other shared use path, transit and roadway projects that are part of that plan. The project will reduce traffic at the “Y” roundabout and offer an alternative route to all Uptown residents and workforce to get to and from their homes and places of work.
Please note that although the new connection roadway will be open, the city will continue the construction of the Uptown Parking Garage which may occasionally require one lane of Forest Road to be closed temporarily near that project site. Motorists are asked to remain alert and follow the marked signage.
For more information about this project, please visit www.forestroadconnection.com, or call the Project Hotline at (928) 852-4164. For more information on Sedona in Motion, visit www.sedonaaz.gov/sim.
To take a ride down Forest Road click HERE
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/aVFE8-Ida9Y?si=6ppLuPkXbmqKfC_j” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Explanation: This video explains how the proposed Sedona in Motion improvement projects increase connectivity in the area around the “Y” intersection, and how those improvements, if completed, will help soften the effects of traffic congestion during peak visitation.