GLOBE - The Arizona Department of Transportation has reopened a nearly 2-mile segment of State Route 88 west of Theodore Roosevelt Dam to provide access to Reavis Trailhead Road/Forest Road 212. 

Crews recently completed repairs from erosion damage to this unpaved segment of roadway, which had been closed due to damage from a 2019 storm that left sections of the highway unpassable and unsafe for public use. The newly opened segment allows the public to access Reavis Trailhead Road from Theodore Roosevelt Dam to the east, where the public can now use the road between mileposts 227-229.

However, SR 88 remains closed between the Fish Creek Hill scenic overlook at milepost 222 and Reavis Trailhead Road near milepost 227 because of the extensive flood damage that occurred in a burn scar area following the Woodbury Fire.

ADOT is conducting a study to determine the scope and cost of reopening the damaged portion of SR 88. The study results are expected in 2023. 

Meanwhile, ADOT and the Tonto National Forest began a project in September to pave and make other improvements to an 11-mile gravel section of the highway between Apache Lake and Theodore Roosevelt Dam. The project is intended to improve the resilience of the roadway during heavy rainfall and to reduce the amount of repair work required after flooding. Because current drainage features aren’t able to handle more severe storms, the improvements will help prevent further damage and closures that limit public access. 

The roughly $18 million project is expected to take about one year, with work scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Drivers should expect delays of up to 20 minutes when crews are working.

For more information about SR 88, please visit the project page at:

/projects/southeast-district-projects/state-route-88-apache-trail

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Tonto National Forest are starting a project this week to pave and make other improvements to an 11-mile gravel section of the highway between Apache Lake and the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. 

The work includes installing an aggregate base and covering it with a chip seal, in addition improving drainage features that are not functional or have been damaged by flooding. The project will also improve sight lines at five locations.

The project is intended to improve the resilience of the roadway during heavy rainfall and to reduce the amount of repair work required after flooding. Because current drainage features aren’t able to handle more severe storms, the improvements will prevent further damage and closures that limit public access. 

The roughly $18 million project is expected to take about one year, with work scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Drivers should plan for flagging operations and temporary closures of up to 20 minutes while crews are working. Also, motorists should prepare to slow down and allow for extra travel time. 

A 7-mile section of SR 88 east of the Fish Creek Overlook remains closed due to extensive roadway damage and rock debris. A study to evaluate feasible options on restoring access to that portion of the road is expected to be finished in 2023.

Learn more about the SR 88 improvements at our project page. 

PHOENIX – Due to a closure of most parts of the Tonto National Forest, State Route 88 has been closed east of Tortilla Flat and between Roosevelt and Apache lakes.

The eastbound closure of SR 88, also known as the Apache Trail, begins at milepost 213 beyond Tortilla Flat, which remains accessible. The westbound closure begins at State Route 188. 

An unpaved section of SR 88 from Apache Lake west to Fish Creek Hill, which is east of Tortilla Flat, is closed indefinitely. That 7-mile stretch was damaged extensively by flash flooding out of the area burned last year by the Woodbury Fire.

Information about Tonto National Forest restrictions is available at fs.usda.gov/tonto.

PHOENIX –  State Route 88 reopened Monday just west of State Route 188, once again allowing access between Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Rockfall had closed the road at milepost 242, 2 miles west of Roosevelt Lake, while crews removed earth and rocks.

However, a section of SR 88 remains closed indefinitely between the Fish Creek Hill scenic overlook at milepost 222 and the Apache Lake Marina turnoff near milepost 229. This is because extensive damage occurred last year from flooding out of the Woodbury Fire burn scar. 

Motorists can now access Apache Lake by taking State Route 188 to SR 88 west. High clearance vehicles are recommended on this unpaved section of SR 88. Motorists can access Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat using SR 88 from Apache Junction. This is a paved segment of the highway.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

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.

In addition, an unpaved section of SR 88 remains closed indefinitely between the Fish Hill Creek overlook at milepost 229 and the Apache Lake Marina turnoff near milepost 222 due to extensive damage that occurred last year from flooding out of the Woodbury Fire burn scar.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has reopened 9 miles of State Route 88 between Tortilla Flat and the Fish Creek Hill scenic overlook to the east, but an unpaved stretch remains closed indefinitely between the overlook and the Apache Lake Marina turnoff due to extensive flood damage.

Crews have worked since last September to reopen SR 88 east to the Fish Creek Hill scenic overlook, a mostly unpaved section between mileposts 213 to 222. Along with much of the rest of SR 88 in the Tonto National Forest, that area was hit by severe runoff from areas burned by the 123,000-acre Woodbury Fire.

SR 88, also known as Apache Trail, remains closed between mileposts 222 and 229 because of flood damage and the continuing potential for flooding from the Woodbury Fire burn scar. 

ADOT is maintaining access to key destinations along SR 88 from the east and west. Motorists can reach Apache Lake by taking SR 188 either from US 60 or SR 87 and taking SR 88 west from Roosevelt. High clearance vehicles are recommended on this unpaved and rough stretch.

PHOENIX – Those taking State Route 88 (Apache Trail) between Apache Junction and Tortilla Flat should use caution with some areas at the edge of the roadway coned off while the Arizona Department of Transportation addresses flood damage.

Because those areas narrow the roadway at points, towing trailers isn’t advised along the winding, two-lane stretch between Needle Vista Viewpoint (milepost 204) and Tortilla Flat (milepost 213) that also leads to Canyon Lake. Those who decide to tow trailers should slow down and keep in mind that the coned-off areas at the roadway edge can make negotiating this section more challenging.

Meanwhile, an unpaved stretch of SR 88 between Tortilla Flat and just west of Apache Lake (milepost 228) remains closed indefinitely because of flood damage from hurricane remnants that dumped heavy rain last month. Motorists can access Apache Lake by taking SR 188 from either US 60 or SR 87 and then SR 88 west. High-clearance vehicles are recommended on this unpaved section of SR 88.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

PHOENIX – A section of State Route 88 (Apache Trail) has reopened from SR 188 to the Apache Lake marina turnoff after being closed because of flood damage.

Motorists can now access Apache Lake by taking SR 188 either from US 60 or SR 87 and taking SR 88 west. High clearance vehicles are recommended on this unpaved section of SR 88.

Motorists using SR 88 should be aware of the possibility of severe flooding and debris flows from areas affected by the Woodbury Fire, which burned 100,000 acres immediately east of and uphill from the highway.

SR 88 remains closed indefinitely between milepost 213 at Tortilla Flat to milepost 228 near Apache Lake because of damage from flooding and debris.

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, or by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT. When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.