The State Transportation Board has green-lighted a new contract that aims at reviving a stretch of State Route 88, also known as Apache Trail, which was severely impacted by floods five years ago. The $4 million project, awarded to Nesbitt Contracting Co., is focused on making the road navigable once again for high clearance vehicles and utility terrain vehicles over a 5-mile expanse between mileposts 222-227, a segment that sits east of Phoenix near the scenic but rugged Fish Creek Hill.
Restoration works are slated to kick off later this month. They will involve the removal of large boulders, rockfall mitigation, the installation of new signage, and repair or replacement of compromised drainage culverts. These efforts are crucial as this particular section of road has been out of bounds to the public since it succumbed to flood damage in 2019, exacerbated by runoff from the nearby Woodbury Fire scar, as per the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
The decision comes after ADOT undertook preliminary work earlier this year that included vegetation clearance and roadbed repair. ADOT has also reopened 1.7 miles west of Apache Lake to reconnect to the Reavis Trailhead at milepost 227 in 2022. Yet, despite the progress, broader enhancements remain on the horizon, with ADOT still actively pursuing federal funds for comprehensive upgrades that would amount to $33.7 million and allow access to a wider range of vehicles while bolstering the highway's defenses against future storm damage.
ADOT expects to complete the currently funded works by September, which should restore some level of traffic along this historic route, initially established to aid in the construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam and completed in 1911. For the duration of the ongoing restoration project, the stretch of road will remain closed to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. ADOT's endeavors reflect not just a commitment to infrastructure integrity, but also an acknowledgment of the trail's heritage and its role in connecting the East Valley to Roosevelt Lake. Details concerning the SR 88 project can be found on the ADOT website, providing community members with updates and relevant information.
