The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has canceled the planned 48-hour closure of State Route 88, a key section west of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which was originally scheduled from today through Thursday. The closure was part of an $18 million project to resurface an 11-mile gravel road and upgrade drainage systems that were outdated or damaged by floods, according to an ADOT report.
The rescheduling is a temporary delay, with other closures still planned for later this month and into May. These closures are part of a federal lands project that began in late 2022 and includes paving as well as improving visibility at various points along the route.
For travelers heading east on SR 88 from Phoenix, the section between Fish Creek Vista and Fish Creek Bridge is accessible only to vehicles with high clearance, such as four-wheel drives or utility terrain vehicles. Trailers are not permitted on this section due to its conditions.
While some closures are temporarily on hold, others are scheduled in the near future. There will be 48-hour closures from 7 a.m. Tuesdays to 7 a.m. Thursdays on April 15-17, April 29-May 1, and May 6-8. Additionally, a 72-hour closure is planned from 7 a.m. Monday, April 21, to 7 a.m. Thursday, April 24. These closures are part of a broader effort to improve and ensure the safety of the roadway. During these closures, access to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Overlook will still be available via SR 188.
