The Arizona Department of Transportation recently held an open house to gain public input about options to fix the closed stretch of State Route 88 (Apache Trail). Due to extensive roadway damage and rock debris following severe flooding in 2019, a 5-mile, unpaved section of State Route 88 (Apache Trail) from the Fish Creek Hill Overlook/Rest Area (milepost 222) to milepost 227 near Reavis Trailhead Road remains closed. The problem began with the Woodbury Fire in June 2019, followed by heavy monsoon rains.
Advocates have been pushing for its reopening since the damaging storm but ADOT deemed quick fixes and are instead focusing on long-term solutions to make more permanent and sustainable repairs and upgrades to the scenic route.
ADOT is conducting a study of the 7-mile segment of SR 88 between the Fish Creek Hill overlook and Apache Lake Marina Road (milepost 222 to 229), 5 miles of which remains closed to traffic. The focus of the study is to determine the feasibility of reopening SR 88 to vehicles, identify potential improvements to their cost and improve the resilience of this roadway to future storm events. ADOT anticipates the study will be completed in late 2023.
Consultants for ADOT presented a range of options including:
- Building a 24-foot wide asphalt paved roadway, replacing the bridges and expanding the drainage infrastructure. This would provide the highest resilience against future flood events but at the highest capital cost.
- The lowest initial investment option would involve repairing the road and existing drainage systems and creating a concrete water barrier at Fish Creek Hill, but at the highest risk for future flood damage.
Consultants and ADOT have also crafted a preferred hybrid approach that would produce a middle-of-the-road (pun intended) resilience to future flood events. That mid-level scope includes beefing up drainage infrastructure, repairing existing bridges and chip-sealing the flat surfaces of the roadway and adding asphalt pavement to sloped portions.
Funding for the project has not yet been identified but will likely involve pursuit of federal grants.
ADOT is seeking public input through Sept. 15 as it plans the next steps. There are three venues for doing so:
- A comment form at azdot.gov/SR88apachetrail,
- By e-mail at mhayes@logansimpson.com, and
- By phone at 480-967-1343.
For more information please visit ADOT’s Project Webpage. (Source)
