{"id":834171,"date":"2026-05-31T08:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T08:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/834171\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T08:11:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T08:11:15","slug":"scottsdale-hold-the-roundabout-vote-leads-to-construction-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/834171\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottsdale hold-the-roundabout vote leads to construction delays |"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his \u201cMeditations,\u201d the Roman Emperor Marcus Auerelius advised: \u201cIt is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

North Scottsdale drivers feeling their souls being crushed by construction-caused traffic jams might keep that in mind.<\/p>\n

The opportunities to meditate anxiety away will be plentiful, as the finish line for the biggest project in Scottsdale has been moved \u2013 extending lane closures, road shut downs and the inevitable back ups.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Dynamite Boulevard project has been dynamic, indeed.<\/p>\n

A vote that \u201ccanceled\u201d a circular intersection here is also extending road construction by six months.<\/p>\n

While she voted against the change from roundabout to no-roundabout last year because of funding concerns, Mayor Lisa Borowsky noted, \u201cI suspect the residents who use Scottsdale Road on a daily basis are no fans of this decision either, as their commute is further interrupted by additional major construction delays.\u201d<\/p>\n

The extension of the construction period tops toothy debate over whether or not Scottsdale City Council\u2019s majority vote cost the city millions.<\/p>\n

In the fall of 2024, a very-different City Council approved a roundabout at Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard as the anchor of a $43 million North Scottsdale road renovation.<\/p>\n

Soon after, voters put Borowsky and council representatives Jan Dubauskas and Adam Kwasman into office.<\/p>\n

On April 8, 2025, a 4-3 vote to squash the circle and stay linear at Scottsdale and Dynamite.<\/p>\n

Though she stressed \u201cI don\u2019t like roundabouts, personally,\u201d Borowsky was on the losing end when she voted not to \u201ccancel\u201d the previously-approved roundabout in North Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

Councilwomen Solange Whitehead and Maryann McAllen voted with the mayor to oppose canceling the circle, but were overpowered by Kwasman, Dubauskas and holdover representatives Kathy Littlefield and Barry Graham.<\/p>\n

The campaign season of 2026 reignited a debate over the project\u2019s funding. Roundabout supporters \u2013 notably Whitehead \u2013 insist canceling the circular intersection \u201ccost taxpayers millions of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Graham, like Whitehead up for reelection, claims that is \u201cmisinformation,\u201d and the real story is a \u201cfunding swap\u201d evened out financial support for the road renovation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, one thing is indebatable: squashing the circle is adding to the project\u2019s lifespan, as well as the anguish of drivers stuck in construction traffic.<\/p>\n

The North Scottsdale Road renovation was initially to be finished by this summer.<\/p>\n

Now \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project is currently anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026,\u201d Holly Peralta, a city spokeswoman, confirmed.<\/p>\n

Reason for the delay?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe change from the roundabout design to a signalized intersection did result in additional design work,\u201d Peralta explained, \u201cand extended the overall project timeline by approximately six months.\u201d<\/p>\n

This comes as no surprise to Whitehead.<\/p>\n

Before the cancel-the-roundabout vote, she said, \u201cIt was clear there would be delays and would cost taxpayers millions more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As for the then-new mayor, despite making it clear she was not a fan of circular intersections, Borowsky sided with those who said it was too risky to disrupt previously-approved funding for the Jomax Road to Dixileta Drive improvement project.<\/p>\n

According to a city webpage, the project \u201cwill convert this section of Scottsdale Road to a complete street to include landscaped medians, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails to improve safety, capacity and accessibility for motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the spring of 2025 meeting, Alison Tymkiw, a senior city engineer, noted \u201cthis roundabout is at a high-accident location and at a location where geometry favored installation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her report warned \u201credesigning from a roundabout to a signalized intersection would be deemed a significant change in scope\u201d and \u201csuch a scope change would result in forfeiture of $31,132,929 in federal funding.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there was what might be called a detour financial path, Tymkiw noted:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe city could potentially exchange federal funding with regional funding \u2026 through the Maricopa Association of Governments.\u201d<\/p>\n

The funding has become a hot-button political issue, with pro-roundabout Councilwoman Solange Whitehead and anti-roundabout Councilman Barry Graham trading barbs.<\/p>\n

Whitehead echoes Borowsky\u2019s suspicions over a funding loss \u2013 while Graham is backed by City Manager Greg Caton\u2019s office in saying a funding exchange covers the no-roundabout project.<\/p>\n

A March email from City Hall declared:<\/p>\n

\u201cScottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is backing up her \u2018no\u2019 vote with newly released financial details divulged during last week\u2019s City Council meeting confirming that the City Council\u2019s 2025 vote to replace an already approved roundabout at Scottsdale and Dynamite roads with a signalized intersection will add $3.4 million in costs to the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incorrect, stated a sharp counter from the city manager\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cCity officials confirm the project remains within its approved $43.7 million budget and that funding for the corridor improvements has been preserved,\u201d Peralta said via email.<\/p>\n

Road work ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shortly after the original roundabout-anchored project was approved, the Progress asked Kelly Corsette, then a city spokesman for a timeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project will begin in November,\u201d Corsette said, \u201cand is scheduled to be complete during the summer of 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

That timeline was echoed on the city\u2019s webpage for the project, which as of early this week listed \u201croadway construction\u201d as \u201c2024-2025.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, however, the frequently asked questions section states the project \u201cwill be complete in late 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

That information is correct, said Corsette\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe updated timeline reflected in the FAQ section is intended to provide the most current construction schedule for the project,\u201d Peralta said.<\/p>\n

The major renovation of North Scottsdale\u2019s busiest road has been brewing for years.<\/p>\n

According to the \u201cproject history\u201d section of the website, \u201cOn May 19, 2020 the City entered into an agreement with Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for funding of design and construction for the majority of these improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOn July, 1 2020, the City Council approved an Engineering Services Contract with Ritoch-Powell and Associates, Inc. to provide preliminary assessments, complete design and construction documents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whitehead and Littlefield were the only current representatives on City Council in 2020.<\/p>\n

On April 2, 2024, city staff asked for approval of an $814,000 contract \u201cfor post-design services for the Scottsdale Road: Jomax Road to Dixileta Drive project.\u201d<\/p>\n

By then, Graham was voted onto City Council.<\/p>\n

Graham asked then-Public Works Director Dan Worth why the Scottsdale-Dynamite circle was needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do see volumes from all four directions of the intersection that warrant a roundabout,\u201d Worth said.<\/p>\n

After noting this would be the first roundabout on Scottsdale Road, Graham asked if others were planned for the longest street in the city.<\/p>\n

Worth said that while \u201cadditional projects\u201d are planned on North Scottsdale Road, \u201cI can\u2019t tell you if we\u2019ve made the determination as to what kind of intersection\/traffic control we\u2019re going to have for those projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

More houses and apartments are driving the road renovations in North Scottsdale, he added. \u201cWe anticipate development to the west\u201d of Scottsdale Road, Worth noted.<\/p>\n

The explanation apparently convinced Graham, who joined in a unanimous vote to approve preliminary work on the roundabout-anchored project.<\/p>\n

Six months later, Graham and Littlefield opposed the roundabout funding. At a Sept. 24, 2024, meeting, they were out-voted by then-Mayor David Ortega and representatives Tammy Caputi, Tom Durham, Betty Janik and Whitehead.<\/p>\n

The day after the vote, Graham took his fight to social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t ask for it, but Scottsdale Road is getting a roundabout \u2013 like it or not,\u201d Graham posted on X\/Twitter.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, Council voted 5-2 to cover $30M in cost-overruns\u2014215% OVER BUDGET\u2014to squeeze in the controversial roundabout at Dynamite Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of getting answers,\u201d Graham complained, \u201cthe Council majority defended the overruns and the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

In another six months, Graham led the fight to \u201ccancel the roundabout,\u201d brushing aside funding concerns raised by Borowsky and Whitehead.<\/p>\n

Asked for a comment on the delay, Graham replied:<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter listening to residents who live in the area of Scottsdale Road and Dynamite who opposed constructing a permanent roundabout in their neighborhood, I stand by my vote to upgrade the intersection to a signalized intersection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham reiterated his claim that in 2025 he voted against \u201ca $29.8M overrun\u2014215% over the original budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham concluded, \u201cIn 2025, working closely with city staff, the conservative council majority requested exchanging grant funding for the roundabout for a signalized intersection. That funding was successfully secured.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Borowsky also stands by her vote, saying Graham has it all wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrior to the Council vote on the roundabout to signal agenda item, I asked our transportation director what impact the re-scope would have on the time to completion at the intersection,\u201d Borowsky told the Progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe confirmed that the change would result in an extra six to eight months of construction time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borowsky stressed it\u2019s not just about time: \u201cIn addition to the delay and inconvenience caused by the decision to re-scope the intersection, it also resulted in a significant financial burden for our taxpayers. First, the city was forced to waive (give back) $31 million in federal funding previously awarded for the project. Plus, because of the re-scope, the new signalized project results in a $3.4 million actual cost increase.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borowsky again noted she is \u201cnot a fan\u201d of traffic circles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I am generally opposed to roundabouts,\u201d she said, \u201cthis was the opposite of a fiscally prudent decision, which is why I voted no.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the project website, the plan includes:<\/p>\n