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SR87 - aka Beeline Hwy
Posted: Jul 10 2017 10:42 am
by chumley
The engineering cluster
that is the entire Slate Creek area is once again going under the ADOT knife.
The Beeline will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction until fall so that crews can once again attempt to prevent the whole area from sliding down the hill.
So, be prepared for slow traffic in the general Sunflower / Mt. Ord / Slate Creek area (about 20 miles south of Payson).
Info here:
https://www.azdot.gov/projects/northcen ... t/overview
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 10:51 am
by Alston_Neal
Thanks for the heads up, because we've been using that route to go north. Nothing takes the buzz off of a good hike than sitting 5 hours on I-17.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 11:00 am
by chumley
This news release offers a bit more detail.
Drivers who use State Route 87 between the Phoenix area and Payson should plan on extra travel time starting Tuesday, July 11, when the next phase of an improvement project focusing on roadway repair and erosion control gets underway.
When the SR 87 work zone is set up in the Slate Creek area about 25 miles south of Payson, the highway will be narrowed to one lane in each direction between mileposts 223 and 226, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The lane restrictions are scheduled to be in place through fall, including on weekends. ADOT plans to temporarily lift the lane closures over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Drivers heading to and from Payson and the White Mountains region should plan for extra travel time along SR 87. A 10-foot width restriction for vehicles also will be in effect while the project is taking place.
Crews began making repairs to the highway’s drainage system near Slate Creek earlier this year. Damage to some drainage pipes had occurred and devices used to measure ground movement, called inclinometers, had registered some slight movement in slopes next to the highway.
Over the next several months, crews will move nearly 27,000 cubic yards of dirt from along the northbound side of the highway to a location further down a slope to help stabilize the area.
“We’re proactive when it comes to roadway and driver safety,” said Audra Merrick, ADOT’s North Central district engineer. “While this work at times will impact those looking to escape the heat in the Phoenix area, our goal is to keep travelers along SR 87 safe and prevent further damage to the highway.”
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 12:32 pm
by Alston_Neal
I noticed yesterday on the faux cliff retaining wall on the east side all these laser mirrors and spray painted targets. Made me wonder if those lasers are there all the time to monitor earth movement. Also on the west wall there is a major breach of the faux cliff.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 12:36 pm
by chumley
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 12:41 pm
by Alston_Neal
What I really meant was....are those lasers there at night by themselves unlocked?
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 1:09 pm
by joebartels
seems a little ironic the spring underneath causes so much havoc in a desert
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 4:36 pm
by hikeaz
..... well it appears as if there is an ADOT conspiracy against Pinetop/Lakeside/Heber, etc...
ADOT to start US 60 pavement project in Salt River Canyon July 12
Drivers should allow at least 30 minutes in extra travel time due to restrictions
PHOENIX – A much-needed project to improve the pavement along US 60 through the Salt River Canyon east of Globe will begin Wednesday, July 12. The Arizona Department of Transportation says drivers should allow at least 30 extra minutes of travel time on weekdays due to the pavement upgrades.
US 60 will be narrowed to one lane in areas between mileposts 286 and 302 from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Flag crews will be in place to direct traffic one direction at a time through the work zone. The $1.4 million project is scheduled for completion by this fall.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 7:23 pm
by Nighthiker
10' road width restriction ? This time of year with RV's. campers, etc. Which I was the vendor supplying traffic cones, going to be a lot of smashed ones.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 7:52 pm
by SkyIslandHiker
hikeaz wrote:Drivers should allow at least 30 minutes in extra travel time due to restrictions
If you happen to just miss the release of traffic in your direction, you're going to wait at least an hour
16 miles in the Salt River Canyon is slow going especially when trucks, RV's and trailers are involved.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 10 2017 8:08 pm
by flagscott
Sounds like this will be a good year for people from northern Arizona to recreate in Pinetop, Lakeside, etc.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 11 2017 7:48 am
by ssk44
That Slate Creek Hill nightmare reminds me of the problems ADOT had along the 260 above Christopher Creek heading up the Rim. They finally had to put in huge arcing bridges. Those springs were always taking out the highway. I think they're still having mild issues up there.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 19 2017 3:18 pm
by Dschur
I know people that came back to the valley from Payson this weekend took between 1-2 hrs south bound and the traffic was all the way to Rye at one point..
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 19 2017 3:58 pm
by hikeaz
I have been up and back to Payson/Pine 3x since the restriction, including 3PM-ish NB on the last 2 Fridays - traffic was barely slowed through the area. On my SB legs it was usually before noon on Sunday - same experience.
I think that it is a day-of-the-week and more importantly, time-of-day issue.
The restriction makes a good excuse to spend an additional day up in cool country.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 20 2017 6:34 am
by Sredfield
@hikeaz Same experience here. No delay at all and we've been back and forth several times. (That'll jinx it for sure.) Coming back around 3 on Tuesday we were hit by a downpour around Mt Ord. I would have loved to hang around and watch Sycamore Creek flash.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 24 2017 12:28 pm
by DarthStiller
Yesterday (July 23) we hit it SB at 3pm and had about a half hour wait.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 24 2017 12:29 pm
by The_Eagle
7/22 @7:30p there was no slowdown at all.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 24 2017 7:35 pm
by Sredfield
6:3-7:00 this morning we had no wait. We did see two accidents but no delays with them, one coming down the hill north of Rye, the other on the reservation just out of Fountain Hills. I suspect hydro-planing or being distrat4ed by the awesome clouds and fog banks on the mountains. Nice steady rain, we had the wipers on from Pine to Ftn Hills.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 24 2017 8:25 pm
by big_load
Sredfield wrote:We did see two accidents
The way people drive on that road, I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.
Re: SR87 / Beeline Hwy 2017 summer restrictions
Posted: Jul 25 2017 6:44 am
by CannondaleKid
big_load wrote:The way people drive on that road, I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.
Thanks, but I'll take the Beeline over the I-17... in my experience, it's nothing like the traffic & accidents on the I-17.
