PHOENIX — While the Arizona Department of Transportation forges ahead with its geotechnical investigation on the US 89 landslide and works on the long-term solution to restore the damaged highway, the agency is committed to restoring connectivity to the Page and Lake Powell region as quickly as possible.

With that in mind, the State Transportation Board approved funding to pave Navajo Route 20, a Navajo Nation tribal road that runs parallel to US 89, at its monthly meeting April 12 in Tucson.

While the primary detour to and from Page and the Lake Powell area has been established by using US 160 and State Route 98, ADOT acknowledges the 115-mile-long detour, which is 45 miles longer than the direct route, can be a burden on drivers who have to use it every day. By paving N20, the detour route would be cut nearly in half and similar in length to the closed US 89 route.

The $28 million N20 paving project is scheduled to start next month — as long as all right-of-way and environmental agreements can be obtained through the Navajo Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo Division of Transportation.

“After numerous face-to-face meetings, roundtable discussions and several presentations from Window Rock to Flagstaff, ADOT and its many partners, including Navajo Nation, Navajo Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Highway Administration, have demonstrated great teamwork to put us in position to begin paving Navajo Route 20 next month if all agreements can get signed, sealed and delivered,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT deputy state engineer of development. “ADOT is anxious to move forward to pave this road and create a more direct temporary detour route.”

The project would improve the existing 44-mile-long tribal route and upgrade so it could accommodate the anticipated traffic volumes, including commercial truck traffic. The major work is paving 27 miles of dirt road stretching from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee.

Construction could begin next month. ADOT’s goal would be to complete the work by early summer.

The project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures. ADOT has already received $2 million in quick release funds to assess the damage and the stability of the mountain slope, and conduct emergency operations.

Once the paving of N20 is completed, ADOT would designate the tribal road as Temporary US 89 (US 89T). After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, US 89T will be relinquished to the Navajo Nation. There is no timetable for reopening the highway, but ADOT is committed to restoring this important travel route as soon as safely possible.

US 89 has been closed north of Bitter Springs and south of Page since Feb. 20 due to a landslide that buckled pavement on the mountain slope.

ADOT is currently conducting a geotechnical investigation, which is the first phase of the solution. Crews are monitoring the stability of the slope and the ultimate repair of US 89 will be based on the results of the geotechnical work.

ADOT has launched a range of communication tools, including a Web page dedicated to keeping the public informed about the status of the closure and alternate travel routes, complemented by up-to-date video and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

PHOENIX — The final step to complete ADOT’s geotechnical investigation that will ultimately uncover the best long-term solution to restore the landslide damaged US 89 highway has started.

After receiving environmental clearance, heavy construction began today as crews will cut a pathway down the slope to the base of the mountain slope. The work is expected to take at least two weeks.

The access path will allow the geotechnical engineers to dig pits, approximately 20-40 feet long and 10-15 feet deep, which will provide critical information regarding any movement that may be present at the base of the slide.

The excavation work is necessary because it will lead to recommendations by the geotechnical team on what options are available within the site to realign the roadway or rebuild the existing roadway.

“This is the final piece of the puzzle we’ll need to wrap up this geotechnical investigation,” said Steve Boschen, ADOT deputy state engineer of design. “Prior to this, our drilling crews were only able to access this area via helicopters.

“ADOT’s goal is to repair this critical section of highway and restore connectivity throughout the region as soon as possible. But before we can start the repairs, we need to determine the cause of the landslide and assess the safety of the slope.”

ADOT’s geotechnical investigation at the US 89 landslide site is the first phase of the solution. Crews are monitoring the stability of the slope and the ultimate repair of the highway will be based on the results of the geotechnical investigation. Efforts also continue on exploring the use of Navajo Route 20 as a temporary detour route while US 89 repairs are addressed.

ADOT launched a Web page dedicated to keeping the public informed with the latest news, alternate routes, and up-to-date videos and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

PHOENIX — In Page, Marble Canyon and the Lake Powell region, tourism is a major contributor to the economy with more than two million visitors annually — and tourism season is beginning to ramp up. When a February landslide on US 89 closed off direct access to the area, the Arizona Department of Transportation made it a priority to keep traffic moving while coming up with solutions to the complex, long-term problem on the highway.

Immediately after the Feb. 20 landslide buckled the pavement on US 89 and cut off the direct route between Bitter Springs and Page, ADOT quickly established detour routes that were determined to be the safest, most efficient means to get to and from Page and southern Utah.

While fixing the damaged roadway on US 89 is ADOT’s top priority, an equally important task has been the need to communicate and raise awareness about the closure and the detour routes, particularly as the busy tourism season approaches.

The primary detour route to Page and the Lake Powell area is to travel east from US 89 on US 160 (Tuba City exit) for approximately 50 miles and northwest on State Route 98 for 65 miles, which is approximately 45 miles longer than the direct route. The route is marked as “US 89 Detour.”

“People believe that they can’t get to Page, which is definitely not true at all,” said Traci Varner, the general manager of the Page/Lake Powell Days Inn and Suites hotel on US 89. “The detour route is actually a pretty ride. It’s just a little out of the way, but it’s a beautiful ride.”

It’s important to note that US 89A is not affected by the closure. As an alternate to the primary detour route, motorists have the option to take northbound US 89A through Marble Canyon toward Fredonia to reconnect to US 89 in southern Utah. Also, beginning in mid-May, State Route 67, which provides access to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, is expected to reopen after its annual winter shutdown.

“We are all making sure we are going to make the best of it and find the silver lining of what’s going on here and be able to communicate correctly with people,” said Colorado River Discovery Operations Manager Korey Seyler, whose rafting company is now dropping off visitors at the Glen Canyon River Dam area, instead of Lees Ferry because of the closure between Bitter Springs and Page.

While it may take a little longer for people to travel to Page and Lake Powell, it hasn’t dampened the spirits. According to Roy Boughton, the executive director of the Page/Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce, Page and other northern Arizona communities affected by the unexpected closure are making the best of the situation.

“The landslide that inhaled US 89 has really energized the people of Page,” said Boughton. “The first reaction was surprise. There seemed to be some negativity or worry about it. Then people start to get together and they are repeating words like ‘make lemonade.’”

ADOT is currently conducting a geotechnical investigation at the US 89 landslide site, which is the first phase of the solution. Crews are monitoring the stability of the slope and the ultimate repair of the highway will be based on the results of the geotechnical investigation. Efforts also continue on exploring the use of Navajo Route 20 as a temporary detour route while US 89 repairs are addressed.

ADOT launched a Web page dedicated to keeping the public informed with the latest news, alternate routes, and up-to-date videos and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

PHOENIX — To bolster communication regarding the US 89 closure caused by last month’s landslide, the Arizona Department of Transportation has set up an office in Page that is staffed twice a week, beginning today.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday, ADOT will have a representative at Page City Hall (697 Vista Ave. in Page). The project team member will be available to answer questions from the public and give the latest updates on the agency’s plans to repair the highway.

“Our intention is to meet with people face to face and share the latest information on the US 89 closure,” ADOT Communications Director Matthew Burdick said. “This will not only aid our communication efforts, but also give the public an opportunity to address their concerns with us. We’ll take that input and share it with the project team.

“ADOT recognizes how important US 89 is to the city of Page, Navajo Nation and the Lake Powell region, particularly as the busy tourism season approaches. ADOT is committed to keep local officials and the public informed of our progress.”

US 89 has been closed north of Bitter Springs and south of Page since Feb. 20 due to a landslide that buckled pavement on the mountain slope.

ADOT is currently conducting a geotechnical investigation, which is the first phase of the solution. Crews are monitoring the stability of the slope and the ultimate repair of US 89 will be based on the results of the geotechnical investigation.

“We believe this will be very beneficial for the community to have firsthand information from ADOT,” Page Mayor Bill Diak said. “This is an example of a great partnership. We are excited to have a community relations person on site and we were more than happy to provide the office space at the city hall.”

In light of the landslide that forced the closure of US 89, ADOT has launched a Web page dedicated to keeping the public informed with the latest news, alternate routes, and up-to-date videos and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

We’ve got some good news for drivers whose commutes have been impacted by the US 89 landslide...

At a special meeting of the State Transportation Board yesterday, the board approved $1 million to design improvements to Navajo Route 20, a Navajo Nation tribal road that runs parallel to the damaged highway.

That means ADOT is a step closer toward establishing a shorter detour route for those drivers who travel daily to Page and the Lake Powell area.

While not a long-term solution, this will help the thousands of motorists who are inconvenienced daily by the unscheduled detour caused by last month’s landslide.

“ADOT has been working with the Navajo Division of Transportation, the Navajo Nation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to pave N20 as an interim measure to shorten the detour route between Flagstaff and Page,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT deputy state engineer of development. “With assistance from the Federal Highway Administration, we are looking to use federal emergency relief funds to restore essential traffic in the region, while we work on the ultimate repair on US 89.”

As part of ADOT’s plans to improve the existing 44-mile-long tribal route, which is mostly a dirt road stretching from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee, ADOT would designate the road as Temporary US 89 (US 89T).

ADOT would pave the road and ensure that it could carry commercial truck traffic, while repairs are made to US 89. The agency is already working with potential contractors and construction could begin as soon as late spring.

The project is expected to take three to four months to complete.

The ability to pave Navajo Route 20 is contingent upon agreements being reached with several stakeholders, including the Navajo Division of Transportation, the Navajo Nation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Highway Administration.

After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, the road will be relinquished to the Navajo Nation. There is no timetable for reopening the highway, but ADOT is committed to restoring this important travel route as soon as safely possible.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation has been granted $2 million in immediate federal aid that can be used to continue investigating the cause of a landslide on a stretch of US 89 last month south of Page.

Following Governor Jan Brewer’s Declaration of Emergency last week, ADOT asked the Federal Highway Administration for the quick release of emergency relief funds and submitted an initial estimate to complete repairs of $35 million. This estimate may change as further information about the landslide is gathered by engineers.

The quick release funds will be used to assess the damage and the stability of the mountain slope, and conduct emergency operations.

The Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program reimburses state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures.

“Our budget for emergencies is very limited, and local governments have even greater financial constraints with limited cash available to fund emergencies,” said Jennifer Toth, ADOT deputy director for transportation. “This initial allocation serves as a down payment on the overall emergency relief needs for US 89. It will offset the cost for the geotechnical investigation of the landslide area to determine short- and long-term options.”

ADOT is currently conducting a geological investigation to determine the stability of the mountain slope in the Echo Cliffs. The agency is also performing damage assessments in the area and a more accurate estimate will be available in the future.

US 89 is currently closed between the US 89A junction near Bitter Springs to the State Route 98 junction near Page (mileposts 523-546). The highway has approximately 500 feet of damage, including 150 feet of pavement that settled four to six feet, due to a landslide and failure of the slope during the early morning hours on Feb. 20.

While US 89 remains closed indefinitely, the primary detour route is to take US 160 to SR 98 toward Page. Drivers also have the option to take US 89A north to Marble Canyon toward Fredonia to reconnect to US 89 in Kanab, Utah.

For the latest highway conditions across Arizona, visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1 from any landline or mobile phone from anywhere in Arizona. Anywhere outside of Arizona, please call 1.888.411.ROAD (7623).

PHOENIX — Before the Arizona Department of Transportation can move forward with a design to potentially repair the damaged section of US 89 south of Page, the agency needs to determine the mountain slope has stabilized after last week’s landslide. That’s where the work of the geotechnical engineers comes into play.

Earlier this week, ADOT received environmental clearance and geotechnical engineers began drilling shafts to deploy equipment called inclinometers beneath the ground surface. These plastic pipes will measure slope movement at a specific location.

“This week we know we had an event (on Feb. 20) with a landslide and it’s not a typical landslide,” said Steve Boschen, ADOT deputy state engineer of design. “It’s a deep-seated bedrock-type slip. We are looking at somewhere between 100 and 150 feet and that’s why we had 10 inclinometers installed right now.”

In addition to inclinometers, ADOT is using several other tools to learn what’s happening underneath the foundation of US 89. Extensometers are being deployed above the ground to measure changes in tension from the bottom of the slope to the top with a pulley device that has a 30-pound weight registered to a scale.

ADOT is also using a three-dimensional laser scanner, called LiDAR, to map the landslide from the ground, while an aerial digital terrain map was created by flying above the ground.

US 89 will remain closed for the immediate future. There is no timetable to reopen the highway, which has approximately 500 feet of damage, including 150 feet of pavement that settled four-to-six feet due to a landslide and failure of the slope.

ADOT’s video team traveled to the site to get a first-hand look, and captured videos and interviews with the geotechnical engineers. The video is now available on ADOT’s YouTube page.

ADOT has recently launched a range of communication tools, including a new webpage dedicated to keeping the public informed about the status of the closure and alternate travel routes, complemented by captivating video and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

For more information on ADOT’s geotechnical analysis, please visit the ADOT Blog.