Fourth Avenue Underpass

  • Location:

    Tucson, Arizona

  • Client:

    City of Tucson

  • Construction Value:

    $31,196,000

  • Delivery Method:

    CMAR

  • Year Completed:

    2010

  • Specialties:

    Bridges, Heavy Rail, Roadways

Features & Highlights

  • One of the first CMAR projects for the City of Tucson’s Transportation Department
  • Installed 3,500-feet of track for streetcar
Project Overview

The 4th Avenue Underpass serves as a connection to downtown Tucson and historic Fourth Avenue. Sundt replaced Arizona’s oldest urban grade-separated roadway-railroad intersection, built in 1916, with a 250-foot-long reinforced concrete underpass for the City of Tucson’s Transportation Department.

Sundt constructed a shoofly to detour the Union Pacific Railroad during construction and completed extensive utility relocations for the project. Utility items included potable water, sanitary sewer and storm water and converting overhead power to underground power. The project team reconstructed parts of 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue, Congress Street and Broadway Boulevard, placed decorative concrete sidewalks and pedestrian plazas, and built retaining walls and steel pedestrian bridges. The project also included a public art component with construction of a multi-level fountain and pedestals for sculptures and landscaping.

The project team made great efforts to work closely with businesses to minimize any impacts to business during construction. Throughout the duration of the project, Sundt coordinated with several major downtown events including the biannual 4th Avenue Street Fair. The events attract thousands of visitors and raised safety concerns for all parties involved. The project team worked with the local businesses and event planners to secure the site and work out the logistics of getting the general public safely through the work zone. Sundt constructed temporary sidewalks to maintain access to businesses and increased wayfinding signage to assist visitors.

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“The Sundt team not only knows how to construct a quality project, but they do so with compassion for motorists, residents and businesses and professionalism towards the City of Tucson.”

Michael Graham, City of Tucson Public Information Officer

Contacts

Awards & Accolades

2010 American Public Works Association Arizona, Transportation Partnering Excellence Award

AGC of AZ, Transportation Partnering Award

2008 Common Ground Award, Metropolitan Pima Alliance