ADOT begins repairs along US 89A following heavy rainfall

After heavy rainfall on Aug. 9 blanketed miles of US 89A between Marble Canyon and Jacob’s Lake with mud and boulders, ADOT has been working swiftly to restore the highway to its previous condition.

If you follow us on Facebook and Twitter or check out the ADOT home page every once in a while, you might already know that ADOT has started repairs along US 89A following a massive rainfall on Aug. 9…

As you can see in the photos at right, the rain (approximately one-and-a-half inches of precipitation in less than 20 minutes, according to the National Weather Service) caused quite a bit of flooding on the stretch of US 89A, between Marble Canyon and Jacob’s Lake.

Crews were very busy last week clearing the mud and debris that collected on the roadway and in box culverts underneath the roadway to prevent possible damage during future storms.

The crews, aided by heavy equipment including an excavator and road graders, removed some boulders that were as large as 15 feet in diameter that traveled approximately two miles from the Vermillion Cliffs!

Right now, less than one-half mile of US 89A is restricted to one-way traffic at milepost 551, approximately 12 miles west of Marble Canyon. Due to the remote location and low traffic volumes, there have little to no delays in this area.

Engineers have completed their assessment and while there is no major damage to the infrastructure, there are some significant repairs that need to be completed before the highway can fully reopen.

Prior to re-establishing two lanes of traffic at this location, ADOT will repair three box culvert structures and drainage channels that allow flood waters to safely pass underneath the roadway and perform additional roadway/pavement work.

ADOT is currently pursuing a contractor to work on the repairs. At this time, there is no estimate for when the repairs will be completed, but we will keep drivers updated through our website and social media channels.