TUCSON, AZ — A major paving project begins this week on Irvington Road, bringing lane closures and rolling construction delays to a busy stretch of southeast Tucson through January.
The work is the City of Tucson's first pavement rehabilitation project funded through RTA Next, the voter-approved 20-year regional transportation plan.
The Irvington Road project covers the corridor between Kolb and Houghton roads. Crews will begin construction Monday, Aug. 17, with the first phase focused on the portion of Irvington Road between Sierra and Pantano roads.
"This stretch of Irvington Road has been a challenge for many years, requiring constant maintenance when we knew what it really needed was to be completely rebuilt," said Ward 4 Tucson City Council member Nikki Lee. "I'm incredibly grateful to the voters for choosing to invest in our roads and making this long-needed project possible."
Drivers should expect lane restrictions, milling operations and paving work during weekdays. Construction is generally scheduled from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 15. Beginning Oct. 16, crews are expected to work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 30. Occasional weekend work is also possible.
The schedule may change because of weather, equipment issues or other unexpected circumstances. City officials warned that monsoon storms could affect the project timeline.
The first phase of paving, between Sierra and Pantano roads, is scheduled to run from mid-August through early October.
The second phase, from Pantano to Kolb roads, is scheduled to begin in early October and continue into January 2027.
Before paving begins, crews will rebuild ADA ramps that do not meet current standards. Workers will also lower manhole and water-valve covers in preparation for the new asphalt.
Residents may see manhole and valve covers placed along curbs during the work. The city is asking people not to remove or throw away the covers because crews will reinstall them after paving.
The city said residential and business access will remain open throughout the project, although driveways may be temporarily blocked when equipment is working directly in front of them.
Once a section is milled, paving is usually completed within 24 hours, though it can take longer depending on crew capacity. Newly placed pavement generally needs about 30 minutes to cure before drivers can use it.
After paving wraps up, crews will raise manhole and water-valve covers to match the new road surface and repaint lane markings.
RTA Next sets aside $177.6 million for pavement rehabilitation over four construction periods. The money is limited to heavily traveled arterial and collector roads, rather than neighborhood streets.
The broader $2.67 billion RTA Next plan funds road, transit, safety, pedestrian, bicycle and environmental projects across the greater Tucson region through the next 20 years.
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