In a special session held on June 30, 2025, the Oro Valley Town Council discussed the urgent need for funding to support a critical construction project managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The project, which has faced delays and budget shortfalls, is now underfunded by $341,000, prompting the council to consider several options moving forward.

The construction project, initially budgeted at nearly $3.7 million, has seen costs rise to approximately $4 million due to various associated expenses. The low bid for construction was submitted by Granite Construction, totaling $2,733,476. However, the project’s timeline has shifted, with a new anticipated start date in mid-September 2025 and completion expected by March 2026.

During the meeting, town officials outlined three potential paths: the first option involves Oro Valley providing the necessary funding to keep the project on track; the second option would be to rescope and rebid the project in hopes of reducing costs; and the third option is to cancel the project altogether, which could lead to the town being liable for approximately $675,000 already spent.

Staff recommended moving forward with the first option, emphasizing that the town has not yet contributed any hard funding to the project. They noted that there are available funds from other road projects that came in under budget, allowing the town to remit the necessary amount to ADOT without impacting the upcoming budget.

The council's decision is crucial, as it will determine the future of the project and its impact on the community. With the fiscal year ending, the council is under pressure to act quickly to ensure the project can proceed without further delays. The outcome of this meeting will directly affect local infrastructure and the town's ability to manage federal funding effectively.