No timetable yet for US 89 repairs

February 28, 2013

A large stretch of the US Route 89 south of Page remains closed a week after a landslide buckled the pavement.  

us 89 A section of US 89 in northern Arizona collapsed Feb. 20. (Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Transportation)

 

The Arizona Department of Transportation still has no timetable for when the road will re-open, and it will be a  couple more weeks before ADOT engineers finish surveying the ground under the roadway, which sunk about five feet into the ground.

The cliffs nearby are popular with hikers. But ADOT spokesman Dustin Krugel cautions pedestrians to avoid the area because it’s still unstable.

"We’ve actually spotted 30-foot-deep chasms in the area, so we’re just asking the public to stay clear of this landslide area for their own safety," Krugel said.

The state is asking for emergency funds from the federal government to expedite the repairs, which will likely take months.

The department is recommending drivers use State Route 98 or US 89A as detours. More information can be found on the ADOT website.