APWA, Arizona Chapter Southern Branch – 2020 Project of the Year, Transportation (5-25M range)

An aerial photo of a vehicle intersection with separated turn lanes and green bicycle lanes. The image has a ribbon on it that says "Project of the Year".

City of Tucson – Valencia & Kolb Road Intersection wins APWA, Arizona Chapter Southern Branch – 2020 Project of the Year, Transportation (5-25 million range): This high-profile project on the most heavily used state route in Pima County is the only full indirect left-turn intersection in the county, and the first to use direction ramps to enhance safety.

EPS Group managed this RTA-funded project from development and alternatives analysis through to construction. In response to the Valencia/Kolb intersection’s high-turning volumes, and resulting congestion, EPS Group came up with an innovative design. The intersection was upgraded to a two-phase signal with indirect left turns on the north and west leg; east and south legs are guided onto directional ramps in the north and east direction. This “Parkway At Grade Intersection” (PAGI) design provides drastically improved capacity (level of service) as well as safety – and did so within the available budget.