The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has reopened State Route 87.
The highway was closed in both directions Friday after a landslide created unsafe conditions in the Slate Creek area (milepost 224). Drivers will travel through a work zone with one lane in each direction & a reduced speed limit as they pass through the area affected by the landslide.
The decision to reopen State Route 87 was made after thorough inspections, removal of unstable soil & assessments by ADOT engineers who have been at the site of the landslide since it occurred. The northbound lanes have been determined to be safe for drivers, meaning one lane in each direction will use this side of the highway to pass through the Slate Creek area.
Motorists will travel through a 2-mile long construction zone with one lane in each direction. The speed limit on State Route 87 will be reduced to 45 miles per hour through the work zone. Motorists must slow down & drive safely through the work zone.
The landslide caused sections of the highway’s southbound lanes to buckle & shift, creating unsafe driving conditions. In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, ADOT will keep this side of the highway closed for an extended period while construction crews excavate & flatten the slope where the landslide occurred. Crews also will reconstruct the southbound lanes damaged by the landslide.
Driver safety continues to be the first priority for ADOT. As the highway reopens, crews will continue to monitor the roadway & slope for additional movement or other safety concerns. ADOT will monitor pavement & soil movement laterally & vertically through GPS coordinates, 3D laser scanners & underground devices.
ADOT appreciates the patience and understanding of drivers who have been detoured between the Phoenix area & Payson during the last few days. They ask for continued patience in the coming weeks as repairs are made to State Route 87.