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Sedona Switchbacks SR 89A Update

ADOT photoSedona AZ (May 14, 2014) – It’s business as usual informs the Arizona Department of Transportation and the City of Sedona, Arizona.

That will be a familiar phrase for the popular tourist destinations in Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon as the Arizona Department of Transportation is preparing for a full closure of the State Route 89A switchbacks north of Sedona following the Memorial Day holiday (May 27-July 2).  Click here to view map.

Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon businesses and area attractions will remain open and accessible while ADOT completes much-needed paving and rockfall mitigation work on a narrow and winding three-mile section of the switchbacks located directly north.

Travelers from the south (including Phoenix) headed to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon can reach these Arizona summer getaways without running into the SR 89A switchbacks closure between mileposts 387-390.

Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon Switchbacks closure update

Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon Switchbacks closure update

Travelers from the north (including Flagstaff) will need to reach Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon by taking Arizona Interstate 17 and then follow AZ State Route 179. This detour will add up to an extra half an hour of travel time each way for motorists commuting between Sedona and Flagstaff with minimal traffic delays.

Be aware that traffic on AZ SR 179 can be slow and often backs up toward the freeway when traffic is heavy, especially in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona, and through the Coconino National Forest with its posted speed of 35 mph. Drivers are urged to allow extra travel time and plan accordingly.

Signage and message boards are currently being used in advance of the closure to ensure traffic is properly detoured via AZ SR 179 to I-17.

The time frame for the full closure from May 27 to July 2, 2014, was chosen because it’s the most favorable time to apply the new pavement, which is extremely temperature sensitive, and is before the monsoon season when rain can delay the paving process.

For more information on the project, visit the project Web page at azdot.gov/SR89A.

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For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

4 Comments

  1. Liked this article on Facebook.

  2. Peggy Rivera says:

    Let’s see if they will be able to reopen right before July 4th weekend as planned. I hope so. That’s major revenue for Sedona.

  3. Liked and shared this article on Facebook.

  4. ADOT SR 89A Switchbacks Improvement Project delayed due to Slide Fire.

    AZ SR 89A Highway remains closed between Sedona and Flagstaff due to the ongoing firefighting efforts against the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

    ADOT had been preparing for a scheduled closure of the AZ SR 89A switchbacks for a pavement and safety-improvement project starting on Tuesday, May 27, at the conclusion of the Memorial Day weekend.

    Crews were pulled off the project Tuesday afternoon shortly after the start of the Slide Fire, which originated approximately six miles south of the project near Slide Rock State Park.

    Currently, SR 89A (mileposts 375-397) remains closed in both directions between Sedona and Flagstaff due to a wildfire that began Tuesday afternoon in the Oak Creek Canyon area.

    Once the fire has been contained and access is allowed in the affected area, ADOT will need to conduct a roadway and rockfall assessment prior to any work resuming on the SR 89A project. Any potential environmental issues must also be addressed following the fire and all post-fire operations will be coordinated with the U.S. Forest Service.

    Work began on the $2 million project to upgrade a three-and-a-half-mile segment of SR 89A between the Pine Flat Campground and Vista Point Overlook (mileposts 387-390) on April 21.

    ADOT is working with fire officials and state emergency managers to ensure the safety of drivers and is assisting with traffic control. As an alternative route, ADOT is recommending motorists take State Route 179 to Interstate 17 to travel between Sedona and Flagstaff.

    There is no estimated time for the highway to reopen.

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