Road Closure

Some motorists upset with road closures due to multiple fires burning in Arizona are taking their frustrations out on ADOT personnel staffing the roadblocks.

ADOT does not decide which roads to close. Closures are determined by fire incident commanders who work in conjunction with law enforcement and ADOT, and motorists may face legal penalties for attempting to get around a barrier or other method used to shut down a road.

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, the reopening of state highways in the high country is a sure sign of spring. Just remember to be safe if you are planning to drive these scenic roads.

PHOENIX –  Rockfall has closed State Route 88 just west of State Route 188, blocking access between Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The closure is at milepost 242, which is 2 miles west of Roosevelt.

There is no estimated reopening time; however, this is expected to be an extended closure while crews remove earth and rocks.

PHOENIX – Because of the incoming winter storm, the Arizona Department of Transportation is closing State Route 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

During the winter, ADOT closes and doesn’t clear snow from SR 67, a 43-mile highway between US 89A at Jacob Lake and the park, since North Rim visitor accommodations are shut down. After closing on Dec. 1 – or earlier when weather warrants, as in this case – SR 67 reopens each spring, usually around mid-May.

PHOENIX – Due to the forecast calling for snow, ADOT will be closing the highway leading to Hawley Lake for the winter on Thursday, Nov. 29.

State Route 67 between Jacob Lake (US 89A) and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is scheduled to close for the winter season on Monday, Dec. 3.

As construction advances on a Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange in west Phoenix, motorists traveling through the Interstate 10 work zone will begin using lanes with a temporary concrete surface.

Hard to believe, but just two months ago it was still technically winter… Since then, temperatures around the state have warmed up and we're officially headed toward summer. Besides the hotter temps, this time of year also brings about the reopening of roads, routes and highways closed by ADOT for the winter.

When more than 200 horses and their riders want to cross the freeway, it’s smart to move out of their way! It also is a good reason to close the road to vehicle traffic, which is what happened twice this week when US 60 and US 93 were shut down briefly at the south roundabout in downtown Wickenburg.