News Releases

Following Landslide Repairs, ADOT Set to Fully Open State Route 87

May 17, 2008

PHOENIX - As work crews finalize repairs following a March landslide, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) expects to reopen all four lanes of traffic on State Route 87 north of the Saguaro Lake turnoff on May 20.

In order to reopen all travel lanes of SR 87 (Duthie-Martin Highway) affected by the March 21 landslide, ADOT must close the highway from 8 p.m. Monday, May 19 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 20 to remove barricades and sweep the roadway.

The 12-foot wide load limit will be lifted when the highway reopens.

Motorists can use US 60 and State Route 188 through Globe or I-17 and State Route 260 through Camp Verde to travel between the Phoenix and Payson areas during the overnight closure.

To protect the safety of the traveling public, ADOT closed the highway on March 21 following a landslide that occurred between Sunflower and Rye near Slate Creek. The landslide caused sections of the highway’s southbound lanes to buckle and shift, creating unsafe driving conditions. SR 87 was reopened on March 27 with one lane in each direction, while construction crews continued making repairs.

Crews, working off the shoulder of the highway, will continue to perform erosion control measures along that section of SR 87 for the next several months. The U.S. Forest Service has partnered with ADOT to ensure proper drainage and erosion control throughout the project.

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Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511 or dial 5-1-1 for information across Arizona.

Please buckle up, observe speed limits, and never drink and drive.

For additional information contact:
ADOT Media Line
800.949.8057