Pima County to Add Safety Upgrades to Palo Verde Road
The $2.4 million construction project aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on South Palo Verde Road.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Safety
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Pima County plans to install new sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and a HAWK pedestrian signal on South Palo Verde Road starting in winter 2026. This infrastructure upgrade follows a decade of recorded fatal or serious injuries involving pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.
Why it matters
The project directly addresses long-standing safety concerns for residents, aiming to prevent future accidents through improved traffic management and increased accessibility. By adding designated crossings and walkways, the county hopes to protect vulnerable road users along this section of South Palo Verde Road.
The $2.4 million project includes 4,700 linear feet of new sidewalks, 11 ADA-compliant curb ramps, and two concrete pads for future bus shelters. These additions follow four fatal or serious injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists over the last ten years.
The players
Pima County
The local government entity responsible for the maintenance and management of infrastructure within the region.
Pima Association of Governments
A regional planning agency that coordinates transportation and safety improvements among local jurisdictions.
Regional Transportation Authority
An organization that manages regional transportation funding and projects to improve mobility and safety in the Tucson area.
The details
Construction will focus on the corridor near the intersection of Michigan Street and Coach Drive. The new HAWK signal is designed to remain dark until activated by a pedestrian, at which point it uses alternating lights to command motorists to stop.
Timeline
Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2026.
Project completion is expected by winter 2027.
Seasonal Patterns
This project follows a pattern set by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program to fund critical safety infrastructure in high-risk areas. It represents a recurring effort to bring existing arterial roads up to modern safety standards.
Residents should anticipate construction delays along South Palo Verde Road once work begins in winter 2026. Motorists should prepare to familiarize themselves with the HAWK signal system, which requires vehicles to stop completely when activated by pedestrians.
The takeaway
The addition of HAWK signals and pedestrian infrastructure is designed to reduce the risk of collisions in high-traffic corridors. Residents are encouraged to stay alert for updated traffic patterns and follow all new signals once construction is completed in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve urban transit and road security on the Tucson Safety page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGUN.
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