SAVE OUR STATE ROUTE 89

The Granite Dells Preservation Foundation encourages its members, Prescott area residents, and our City Council to consider alternatives to the proposed widening of State Route 89 through the Granite Dells.   This scenic roadway is the gateway into our city from the north and is often the only section of the Dells many people see.

It would be a mistake to turn this experience into a five-lane highway, making it impossible for wildlife to cross safely. 

Alternatives such as smart traffic lights and the addition of turn lanes at existing intersections will be more economical while addressing safety concerns.  In fact, according to a UC Davis study in 2021*, adding lanes (in our case, at an estimated cost of $15 million through the Dells) will increase speeds and lead to increased traffic congestion, local air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions due to the induced travel effect.

What’s the rush?  Let’s slow down for only 5500 feet and appreciate the beauty of our Granite Dells.

*UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, “We Can and Should Account for the Consequences of Expanding Highways,” by Jamey Volker and Mike Sintetos, March 31, 2021