Public Works Deputy Director Shane Keesall presented Apache Junction’s fiscal year 2026 capital improvement program and street maintenance plan at the July 14 work session, outlining preservation and rehabilitation projects, drainage work and several design efforts the department plans to pursue in FY26.

Keesall said the city’s pavement condition measure (remaining service life, RSL) improved from 12.82 to 14.05 year equivalents and that the department achieved its service level objective for the first time in many years; he also noted the percentage of pavement in poor condition has room for improvement (staff reported about 5–7 percent in poor condition). Keesall said the city needs roughly $2.5 million annually for a robust maintenance program and that funding for immediate needs comes from the city’s street sales tax supplemented by HEERF and Pinal County sales tax funds.

Planned work includes chip seal and crack sealing preservation treatments across rural roadways, slurry‑ and cape‑seal projects, pavement overlays on higher‑volume corridors such as portions of Superstition Boulevard and Broadway, and reconstruction of Lost Dutchman (phase 4) pending right‑of‑way coordination. Keesall said the city will pursue another round of chip seal in spring 2026, continue in‑house crack sealing and deploy a mix of contractor‑led preservation work.

Keesall described other capital projects on the CIP list: the Superstition Boulevard and Apache Trail corridor street‑lighting project (funded in part by a grant), a Winchester storm drain extension and widening, undergrounding of an open ditch on Delaware Drive, and sidewalk connectivity projects including Old West Highway and sections adjacent to the Superstition Basin. He also noted the city is advancing a fiber‑optic master plan and updating engineering standards for telecommunications and small wireless facilities.

Council members asked about the new corridor lighting and complained about perceived over‑illumination; Keesall said the new fixtures are dark‑sky compliant and have dimmable modules that can be adjusted and programmed remotely. He also described the process for signal warrant studies (an intersection must meet several warrant criteria; in one case Delaware and Southern met warrants based on crash severity types) and said staff will continue to coordinate contractor contacts and timing for CIP projects. Keesall cautioned that the FY26 plan is subject to bid results and could be adjusted if quotes exceed budget estimates.

No council vote was taken; Keesall said the presentations and planned projects will be brought forward as contracts and consent items throughout the fiscal year.