Marana installs new public art as part of Rattlesnake Pass Project
Published on August 12, 2026
MARANA - The Town of Marana has installed a new public art sculpture on Rattlesnake Pass as part of the final phase of a major roadway improvement project.
The sculpture pays tribute to the area’s name with an engaging rattlesnake that was conceptualized by the Planning Center and designed and fabricated by Cemrock at a cost of approximately $200,000. The artwork was funded as part of the Twin Peaks Road Widening Project and serves as one of the project’s finishing elements.
The Twin Peaks Road Widening Project represents an important transportation investment designed to improve mobility, safety, and connectivity in the area. The project reconstructed Twin Peaks Road from the western boundary of the Saguaro Bloom development to the intersection of Twin Peaks Road and Silverbell Road, expanding the roadway to a four-lane arterial. Improvements also included drainage, landscaping, sidewalks, and intersection enhancements.
The roadway project was funded through transportation funds and impact fees, with contributions from D.R. Horton and Pima County.
“The Twin Peaks Road Widening Project represents an important investment in the long-term transportation needs of our community,” said Marana Public Works Director Fausto Burruel. “Expanding this corridor creates a safer and more functional roadway for everyone who travels through the area.”
The new rattlesnake sculpture provides the finishing artistic element to the corridor and reflects the Town’s commitment to incorporating public art into community infrastructure projects.
“Public art gives us an opportunity to bring creativity into the places where our community lives, works and plays,” said Assistant Town Manager Andrea De La Cruz. “The new sculpture adds a distinctive artistic element to this major roadway while contributing to Marana’s growing collection of public art throughout the community.”
The Town is dedicated to integrating public art that captures Marana’s heritage into public and private development projects, as directed by the Town of Marana Strategic Plan 5.
The name “Rattlesnake Pass” dates back to the 1930s, and the area has a long connection to Hollywood, serving as a filming location for several Western films, including Backlash, Broken Lance, and The Western Story.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Rattlesnake Pass improvements and the sculpture will take place in September 2026. As part of the celebration, the Town will unveil the sculpture’s official name, which will be selected with input from the community.
Residents will soon be invited to participate in the naming process and help give Marana’s newest piece of public art a name. Additional details about the naming opportunity will be announced soon.
About the Town of Marana Public Art Program
The Town of Marana’s Public Art Policy established a dedicated Public Art Fund to support the integration of art throughout the community. The fund receives contributions through eligible Town Capital Improvement Projects and private development projects.
To learn more about the Town of Marana’s Public Art Program, visit the Town of Marana Public Art webpage.
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