Council approves IGA amendment for Fourth Street–Lockett roundabout as costs rise to $6.6M

Flagstaff City Council on April 2 approved Amendment No. 2 to an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Transportation for design and construction of a roundabout where Fourth Street meets Cedar Avenue/Lockett Road.

Project history and cost: Alec Latino, capital improvements project manager, told council the highway-safety grant remains $1.9 million from the Highway Safety Improvement Program and that the total project cost had risen to an estimated $6.6 million. “The city share has gone up to $4,700,000,” Latino said, and staff told council that the increase largely reflects construction cost escalation, higher engineer’s estimates, added right-of-way purchases and temporary construction easements (TCEs), and additional design and project administration needs. The right-of-way costs included a property purchase and demolition near East Lockett.

Schedule and coordination: Latino said construction was pushed into spring 2025 to allow final design and to accommodate right-of-way work. He and a public-works representative said the city plans to avoid overlapping major nearby closures; staff intends to complete the Linda Vista work before the roundabout construction to minimize concurrent traffic impacts.

Why it matters: staff said the intersection had been identified as a hazardous area and thus qualified for federal safety funds; the roundabout is intended to reduce collision risk and improve traffic flow along a corridor used by regional traffic.

Votes and next steps: Council adopted the resolution to amend the IGA and authorized staff to proceed with advertisement for construction once plans are finalized. Staff will complete 100% design, finalize right-of-way and move to bid for a spring 2025 construction window. The item will return to council only for routine updates unless additional funding or design changes are required.