Quail Crossing Blvd. Extension

General Overview

The Quail Crossing Blvd. extension will be open to the public for travel on December 21^st. The new surface road will enhance travel for Sahuarita residents and the those living in the Quail Creek and Madera Highlands neighborhood. Residents will be able travel on Quail Crossing Blvd extension, approximately 1.8 miles, that connects westbound at S. Old Nogales Hwy. and eastbound at S. Nogales Hwy. It is anticipated that Quail Crossing Blvd. extension will reduce travel time to S. Nogales Hwy and W. Duval Mine Rd./Interstate 19 interchange by 2.5 miles, or approximately 4 minutes.

What You Need To Know

Please also observe the following traffic changes:

South Old Nogales Hwy speed limit for northbound and southbound will drop to 40 mph 1,000 ft from the intersection of E. Quail Crossing Blvd. and S. Old Nogales Hwy.
Three (3) sets of rumble strips on northbound and southbound S. Old Nogales Hwy. will be in place 500 ft from the intersection of E. Quail Crossing Blvd. F
Observe flashing yellow caution light signs on S. Old Nogales Hwy.
The traffic signal will display flashing yellow lights for traffic on Old Nogales Highway and flashing red lights for traffic on Quail Crossing Boulevard.

Offsite work on Quail Crossing Blvd. extension will continue through August 2023. Landscape and seeding will take place along Quail Crossing Blvd. extension and railroad crossing improvements by Union Pacific at E. Quail Crossing Blvd.

Golf Carts

Golf carts are allowed on Quail Creek Crossings Blvd. extension but are prohibited from driving on the cyclist and pedestrian multi-use path. Golf carts should pull over on the right-hand side when vehicles are traveling on the road.

Required items for operating in a public road:

Headlights Rearview mirrors

Turn Signals Windshield

Amber reflector Slow vehicle sign

License plate.

The Town of Sahuarita encourages drivers to proceed with caution when approaching the E. Quail Crossing Blvd. and S. Old Nogales Hwy. intersection and to be vigilant to others on the road.

Quail Crossing Blvd. What You Need To Know: Q&A

Why aren’t the traffic signals working?

Intersections within two-hundred feet of an at-grade railroad crossing cannot be modified without the express permission of the Arizona Corporation Commission and the railroad. The Arizona Corporation Commission and Union Pacific Railroad both have the authority to determine when and under what circumstances traffic control at an intersection may be changed.

The Town and Union Pacific Railroad have been actively working together throughout the duration of the project, design to construction, and though the Arizona Corporation Commission and Union Pacific Railroad have approved the intersection improvements and roadway plans prior to construction, a new crossing gate and an updated train detection equipment must be installed prior to the traffic signal operating.

The signals aren’t operating. Shouldn’t this be treated as a four-way stop?

No. The traffic signal heads are covered, indicating that the signal is out of service. Northbound and southbound traffic on Old Nogales Highway should not stop. Southbound traffic turning left on Old Nogales Highway unto Quail Crossing Blvd. must yield to oncoming northbound traffic on Old Nogales Highway.

Why isn’t it a four-way stop?

Union Pacific Railroad and the Arizona Corporation Commission have the authority to determine when and under what circumstances traffic control at an intersection within two-hundred feet of a railroad grade crossing may be changed. Union Pacific Railroad will not allow the existing traffic control – a two-way stop – to be changed until they have upgraded the crossing gates and related equipment.

Why aren’t the traffic signals flashing yellow and red? That doesn’t change the traffic control, does it?

It is the Town's position that activating the traffic signals in flashing operation does not change the existing traffic control. A red flashing light or beacon supplements but does not replace a stop sign. A flashing yellow light or beacon calls attention to conditions that may not be apparent to road users. The Town is continuing its efforts with Union Pacific Railroad to allow the traffic signals to be set in flashing operation.

Who has the right of way?

Northbound and southbound through traffic on Old Nogales Highway always has the right of way. Southbound through traffic turning left on Old Nogales Highway unto Quail Crossing Blvd. must yield to northbound through traffic. Traffic on Quail Crossing Blvd. entering Old Nogales Highway, either a left-out or a right-out, must stop at all times and yield to northbound and southbound through traffic on Old Nogales Highway

Why aren’t golf carts allowed on the bike path?

Licensed, insured, and street legal golf carts are permitted on Arizona roads with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or less. Golf carts, like all slow-moving vehicles such as tractors, animal drawn vehicles, and construction equipment are required to move to the extreme right of a traffic lane or paved shoulder to permit other road users to pass if they are obstructing traffic.

The “bike path” is what the Federal Highway Administration calls a Shared Use Path. A Shared Use Path is defined as a bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. Shared use paths are also used by pedestrians (including skaters, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and joggers).

Additional Measures

The Town is taking additional safety measures such as:

Two additional flashing lights and an additional intersection warning sign have been added to Old Nogales Highway.

Materials have been ordered to lengthen the rumble zones to encourage motorists on Old Nogales highway to slow down.

Posts and signage have been ordered to protect pedestrians and prevent motor vehicles from entering the Shared Use Path.

The Town is continuing its efforts with Union Pacific to allow the traffic signals to be set to flashing operation.

Tucson Electric Power will energize the intersection Old Nogales Highway and Quail Crossing Blvd. lighting circuits to improve nighttime visibility by January 4, 2023.

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Quail Crossing Blvd. What You Need To Know: Q&A

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