The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has issued an advisory for drivers to anticipate full road closures on State Route 88, also known as Apache Trail, due to a paving project. The closures impact a stretch west of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, spanning 11 miles from the entrance to Apache Lake at milepost 229.9 to just west of the dam overlook at milepost 240.5, reports ADOT.
Set between Tuesday, April 29 and May 15, these disruptions come as part of a larger $18 million federal infrastructure effort to lay pavement and enhance roadside drainage systems damaged by flooding. The 48-hour closures are scheduled on the following Tuesday to Thursday windows: April 29-May 1 and May 6-8, with an additional extended 72-hour closure from May 12 through May 15. This schedule is subject to shifts depending on weather conditions or other unforeseen factors.
Those looking to access the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Overlook can do so via SR 188 during the disruptions. The eastbound direction of SR 88 will remain navigable from Phoenix, although the unpaved section from Fish Creek Vista to Fish Creek Bridge demands a vehicle equipped for rough terrain, absent of trailers. The project, launched in late 2022, is part of the Arizona Federal Lands Access Program, which is jointly managed with the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway Administration.
As ADOT oversees the task of smoothing the highway's surface and updating its drainage capabilities, travelers are being urged to plan ahead to avoid closure periods. While the improvements are set to enhance travel conditions in the long term, the impending closures signal a short-term hurdle for regular commuters and visitors to the Apache Trail area.
