US 89 to Page is closed....

[outdoor_lover]

http://bit.ly/12Nl2oJ

Hikebot adds http://adotblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/ne ... tails.html

[PaleoRob]

More updates:
http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2013 ... nical.html

[big_load]

More updates:
http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2013 ... nical.html

Thanks! Toward the end of that, they pulled back far enough to show as much of it as can be seen from the surface, which looks pretty bad. The long view was a pretty characteristic-looking slide, like the one by Lime Mountain in the Supes. ( http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=21196).

[chumley]

They might consider paving the route through The Gap and up through Coppermine and Le'Chee.

This project is underway, and expected to be done by mid-August. In the meantime, the general public is no longer allowed to use the dirt road route (as some of us had previously done) due to ongoing construction and roadwork.

The new paved road will be part of the ADOT highway system and labeled US-89T. Whenever they fix the original highway, 89T will revert back to BIA and lose it's ADOT US-89 designation.

Details in the Daily Sun: http://azdailysun.com/news/local/work-o ... 5aaae.html

[ASUAviator]

My company is doing the dirt work on the new road way so I guess theres a chance I might go work on it. Be kinda nice to work outta town

[beterarcher]

@ASUAviator
I didn't know you liked to play in the dirt. I go for an oral interview with IUOE 428 on Monday for the apprenticeship program. I went down to the training center at Casa Grande for the "trade test" last month and scored pretty well, 293 out of 300 points . Do you know what kind of questions will be asked at the interview? PM me so we don't clog up the thread.

[Jim]

About time. I wish that had been paved in 2007 or 2008 when I was driving to Page from Flag every week. I considered the alternative route but never used it due to it being dirt. Oh, they'll resent the outside presence on the road, but those who live on BIA 20 should see this 89T project as a huge improvement.

[azbackpackr]

I was just by that area today and also on Friday. Sure is a lot of truck activity, and a big cement plant has gone up at Gap. Some people seemed worried that the road, with only a 4 inch base, will not hold up for long. Truckers are being housed everywhere along 89 from Gray Mountain on up. There must have been 30 or 40 big trucks parked at Gray Mountain this morning.

[outdoor_lover]

The Bypass is just about ready....

http://arizonahighways.wordpress.com/20 ... or-u-s-89/

[kingsnake]

How many miles does that shave off the trip from Flagstaff to Page, versus 160?

[chumley]

How many miles does that shave off the trip from Flagstaff to Page, versus 160?

http://bit.ly/140u0Rs
drag the line to the new route. 50.

[azbackpackr]

I drove by the turnoff, which is by the Gap gas station, earlier today. It's still signed as being closed, but I'm hoping it will actually open tomorrow as it says in the article, since I am going to Page later in the week.

[chumley]

Signs are for people who follow rules. :A1:

[Jim]

Liz tells me the road is only 2 inches thick, not 4 or 6 inches thick as a normal highway for trucks would be. Seems pointless to have built a substandard road over that sand up there. It will be falling about by January. Even if NR 20 is paved now, it might not be in a few years after 89 is rebuilt.

[azbackpackr]

The road opened today! I'm heading to Page on Saturday to buy another kayak. Glad to hear I won't have to go around by way of Tuba or Fredonia.

[beterarcher]

Shall we start a pool as to how long the two inch thin road is going to last?

[big_load]

It might have been the best thing to do in the short term. They wanted to get something done quick, and either they don't plan on it lasting, or they expect to upgrade it bit by bit as funding permits.

[azbackpackr]

I don't know when they are going to rebuild the permanent road, since there's evidence there will be more slumps, due to the geology of the area. I guess it is fairly unstable.

[big_load]

@azbackpackr They'll need a major reroute, or just plan on totally rebuilding the road every so often.

[azbackpackr]

@azbackpackr They'll need a major reroute, or just plan on totally rebuilding the road every so often.

Yes. As my river runner friend likes to say, "Well, they built a road where Baby Jesus said there shouldn't be a road..."

[Jim]

Seems a permanent re-route is a better choice, if evidence suggests the slumps are likely again.