SAVE OUR STATE ROUTE 89
THROUGH THE HEART OF THE GRANITE DELLS
The iconic Dells Narrows of SR89 is a uniquely scenic and historic approximately one-mile segment of highway through the rocky Dells and an important part of the Granite Dells experience.
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With the current concept for widening the 2.5-mile highway segment from the Phippen to Watson Lake roundabouts, this scenic Narrows would become a sanitized, tree-free, five-lane highway and a damaged historic entrance into the southern area of Prescott. We’re calling this segment the “Dells Narrows.”
The City of Prescott is considering widening the Dells Narrows to a five-lane highway.
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Because of gaps, inadequacies, and lack of consideration of public input, we think the current public comment period set to expire on September 9th should be extended at least 45 days from the August 26th study session and public hearing.
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Please consider attending one or more of these important SR 89 meetings to learn more about the plan to widen (yes, widen with blasting) SR 89 through the Narrows, ask questions, or make comments.​
August 26, 2025
Prescott City Hall
401 N. Montezuma Street
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STUDY SESSION @ 1 p.m.
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Agenda item 3.A. Presentation & Discussion Regarding 15% Alternative Design Concept Plans
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A 50-slide presentation is the main component of the study session.
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There might not be much time for public comments.
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To hear staff’s commentary on the process, you might want to attend this study session.
VOTING MEETING + PUBLIC HEARING @ 3 p.m.
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Agenda item 11.B. Public Hearing #1 in Accordance with Resolution No. 2024-1876
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Under this resolution, there are procedural requirements for the public hearing that should be met, such as sign-in sheets, public comment forms, and project displays and stations to help stakeholders visualize the alternative roadway concepts and project details, but we don't know what the format will be.
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Because of appearing late on the agenda, the SR 89 hearing might not begin until about 4 p.m.
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You’ll have a better chance to speak at this meeting. If you don't already know what comment(s) you want to make, you could [1] talk to acquaintances who've voiced concerns and probably have more comments than they'll have time to voice, [2] review this page, and/or [3] talk with other citizens (not City or engineering contractor staff) attending the meeting, at project displays and stations or before the meeting starts.
Meetings can be viewed on Channel 64, Facebook Live, or on the City's website, City of Prescott Live Meeting Feed.
Your presence in council chambers and participation there will show the Council and staff that the public is engaged with this project and watching the process closely.
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There are alternatives to widening.
Did You know?
Widening is Not Necessary
The only necessary component of the plan is to improve the effluent system as part of a centralization project. At the “close proximity” open house held on September 6, attendees were told by city spokespersons that the lines could be placed below the road shoulders with NO WIDENING NECESSARY.
City statements have greatly inflated wait times at intersections and the occurrence of congestion on the road. Our sampling and experience show that this section is handling traffic quite well except for an early morning half-hour commuter congestion that adds a minute and a half to the transit time.
The usage-rate projections into 2045 for this part of SR89 are debatable. With upcoming population growth to the north of Pioneer Parkway, there will be proportionate commercial development that will establish shopping opportunities there, thus reducing southbound traffic.
Widening Through the Narrows is a Bad Idea
The iconic Dells Narrows of SR89 is a uniquely scenic and historic stretch of highway and an important part of the Granite Dells experience. With the current concept for widening, this scenic Narrows would become a sanitized five-lane expressway and a gravely damaged historic foyer into the City of Prescott.
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The proposed concept will cost taxpayers a bunch-- $36.7 million
Aside from the commuter constituency, the real beneficiaries of widening are developers that need to avoid the traffic impact obstacle to their future developments.
There are Alternatives
We agree that motorists living and driving this stretch of highway have safety concerns and experience delays getting out onto SR89 from roads that intersect it. Some experience slower-moving traffic during certain morning hours and evening hours.
However, we think safety improvements can be made without widening the roadway through the Dells Narrows.
Minor changes, such as installing smart traffic lights and additional merge lanes could improve these intersections without widening or blasting any rocks.
In the evening, the roundabout at Watson Lake Park is a bottleneck for southbound traffic as motorists drive north to merge onto Willow Lake Road. Why isn't improvement of this rounabout the Design Concept Report?
Put the Public First
The 2023 Citizen Survey demonstrated a significant lack of support for widening. We wonder why this information seems to have been disregarded even after it impressed the Council to take a pause on a widening position. What has changed?
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We want the Prescott decision-makers to put our future first, listen to community concerns, and commit to working toward a shared vision of this road without compromising our quality of life and the unique features of our city.
The Bottom Line
We suggest the City of Prescott Leadership recognize that overwhelmingly its citizens do not want a five-lane expressway through the Dells. Widening is not necessary to accomplish the wastewater upgrades, doubling traffic capacity is currently unnecessary, and it is doubtful it is needed for the future.
Blasting our scenic two-lane entrance to Prescott and the Dells into an expressway would be an irreversible disaster that wouldn't benefit Prescottonians, but the loss would be at their expense. Centralization and traffic safety concerns can readily be accomplished without widening.
Enjoy the View!
This portion of SR89 is part of the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Highway and part of Historic 89, once the main Arizona north-south route from border to border.
What makes US 89 so unique is that for most of its nearly 2,000 miles, it is a two-lane road. That means it is a “slow road” that keeps you close to the scenery providing ample opportunities to stop and experience the best America has to offer. In fact, it’s so much fun to drive that National Geographic named it the #1 Drivers’ Drive in the world.
