Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Flood Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County updates Ruby Road dredge, I‑19 interchange and retention-basin plans; seeks funding for construction
Summary
Santa Cruz County public works and flood control staff updated the Board of Supervisors on multiple infrastructure projects including the Ruby Road dredge, I‑19 interchange improvements, Efrem (Ephraim) Canyon retention basin, Baboqua Kamari Creek bridge replacement and Nogales channel repairs, with construction target dates and estimated costs.
Santa Cruz County public works and flood control staff on Feb. 4 provided the Board of Supervisors with progress updates on several transportation and flood-control projects and outlined timelines and funding needs.
Leonard Fontes, public works director, told the board the Ruby Road dredge over Potrero Creek and the Union Pacific Railroad will use internal funds for design after federal partners required federal funds be reserved for construction; that change shortens procurement time and the design is expected to take about 18 months with construction currently scheduled for January 2027.
Fontes said the I‑19 interchange improvements from Rio Rico Drive to Ruby Road — including east and west frontage roads and interchange modifications — had a kickoff meeting with ADOT and consultants; design completion is targeted for September 2026 and current construction cost estimates are in the $45–$50 million range, requiring aggressive pursuit of funding sources.
On flood-control projects, staff reported an alternatives analysis for the Efrem (Ephraim) Canyon retention basin that recommends a jurisdictional structure using a spillway to reduce material needs while keeping the original footprint. Phase 15% design plans and a technical memorandum are due in February; staff will meet with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the state emergency management agency to review geotechnical recommendations.
Fontes said the Baboqua Kamari Creek bridge replacement is in scope/schedule development and will require detour planning to limit business impacts; design completion is projected for fall 2026 and construction in 2027. Nogales channel repairs along Hohokam Drive received interim patching after monsoon damage; staff are developing a design to stabilize the channel where it transitions from narrow to wide and are considering applying to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grant program.
The flood control district reported that updated flood-mapping and a downtown Nogales floodplain feasibility study are underway; staff are reviewing individual structures to determine impacts under current flood-hazard mapping and indicated the county will revisit its floodplain ordinance to provide more flexibility for improving existing structures within the floodplain.
Supervisor comments thanked staff for coordination with ADOT and noted the importance of east‑west frontage roads to relieve congestion at the Ruby Road exit. No formal board action was requested at the update; staff flagged several projects that will require external funding and community engagement as design work continues.
