ADOT announces major pavement rehab for central St. Johns, bids set in December
The Arizona Department of Transportation has posted a pavement rehabilitation project for central St. Johns that will mill and replace asphalt on US 180 and upgrade a short segment of US 191, with sidewalks, ADA ramps, guardrails and drainage work. Bids open Dec. 12, and the project listing signals additional construction work may follow after current maintenance restrictions on US 180.
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The Arizona Department of Transportation has formally posted a pavement rehabilitation project that targets central St. Johns, marking the next phase of planned road work in the town. The scope covers milling and replacing asphalt on US 180 between mileposts 366.92 and 368.93, as well as improvements to a short segment of US 191. The project also includes sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp installations, guardrail upgrades and drainage improvements. The bid opening is scheduled for Dec. 12.
ADOT’s public listing describes a comprehensive resurfacing and street-safety package rather than a narrow patching contract. While the formal bid process begins in December, the listing notes that more construction appears to be queued up around St. Johns after the maintenance restrictions currently affecting US 180. That suggests a broader campaign of improvements for the corridors that serve the town’s residents and local traffic.
For residents and businesses in Apache County’s county seat, the work has immediate and longer-term implications. In the near term, milling and repaving operations typically require lane shifts, temporary traffic controls and intermittent closures. Those disruptions can affect daily commutes, deliveries, school transportation and downtown access for small businesses. In the longer term, replacing aging pavement, upgrading guardrails and improving drainage can reduce vehicle damage, enhance pedestrian safety and limit storm-related washouts that have previously strained local streets.
Sidewalk and ADA ramp work will also shape the public realm, improving accessibility for residents with mobility limitations and making pedestrian routes safer and more coherent. Drainage improvements are particularly important in this high-desert region, where sudden rain events can produce runoff that damages pavement and affects adjacent properties.
ADOT’s posting initiates a competitive bidding process that will determine the contractor and schedule; once bids are evaluated and a contract awarded, construction timelines and traffic-management plans should be published. The agency’s indication that additional projects are queued following current maintenance restrictions suggests the town should expect an extended period of road work beyond this single contract.
Local officials, business owners and residents will want to monitor ADOT updates and the bid outcome in December for details on start dates, phasing and detour plans. Proper planning and public information will be key to minimizing disruption while ensuring the community benefits from safer, more accessible streets and improved stormwater management when the work is completed.
