Prescott Valley to widen Glassford Hill Road; town urges caution during construction

Prescott Valley plans to add capacity and nonmotorized facilities to Glassford Hill Road as part of a project aimed at easing congestion and improving pedestrian and bicycle connections.

"We're going to be adding an additional two lanes, one in each direction," Town Manager Gilbert Davidson said, adding that the project will include bike lanes, sidewalks and a multiuse path on both sides of the roadway. Davidson said the work covers the stretch from Long Look to State Route 89A.

The town warned listeners construction will cause short-term inconveniences. "Construction is not fun," Davidson said, noting crews will schedule night work when possible and that residents should plan ahead for delays. Everly Chadwick, the town's chief communications officer, said construction teams have coordinated with the school district to minimize impacts during Granville Elementary and Bradshaw Mountain High School pickup and drop-off times.

Davidson framed the work as a safety and efficiency investment for a major thoroughfare: improved traffic flow for motorists and safer options for bicyclists and pedestrians. He asked residents to be cautious in work zones and to expect some lane restrictions in the months ahead.

On traffic safety more broadly, Davidson said engineering changes will be combined with enforcement and communications. "When you see a police car, most of us slow down," he said, noting the town issued more than 11,000 tickets and warnings for traffic enforcement in the past year. Officials encourage residents to report recurring problem streets so engineers and police can target solutions.

The town did not provide a construction timeline beyond saying night work will be used when feasible and that improvements will proceed over the coming months. Davidson said the town's goal is a safer, more efficient corridor when work is complete.