The one-way portion of the Cactus Forest Drive in Saguaro National Park East will be closed for repaving starting Wednesday.

According to Bob Love, the chief ranger of Saguaro National Park, the park will reopen Saturday.

The project, which was originally scheduled for May 10, was halted when workers repaved a small test section of loop.

Love said they originally planned to use a type of slurry treatment  they thought would be a better surface for both cars and bikes, but officials weren’t happy with the surface when they saw the test patch.

“After applying a small test section of the Type 1 slurry seal, however, it was apparent the treatment produced an irregular surface not conducive to bicycle use,” Love wrote.

Officials decided to use the same type of pavement that they used in Saguaro National Park West.

“The park recently applied this treatment to Kinney and Picture Rocks Road,” Love wrote. “Afterwards we received positive feedback from several bicyclists on that project.  This treatment provides a much more uniform surface, and we believe it will enhance bicyclist safety and rider satisfaction.”

According to Love, it was a priority to make sure the road was ride-able for cyclists so they delayed the project and decided to spend more money to make it a better surface.

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