July 16: First phase of SR 89 Hell Canyon Bridge Replacement begins Thursday

July 16: First phase of SR 89 Hell Canyon Bridge Replacement begins Thursday

Construction of access roads during the next month will require intermittent lane closures

The first phase of construction on the State Route 89 Hell Canyon Bridge Replacement project will begin Thursday, July 16, from approximately 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Beginning Thursday, motorists should be prepared for brief road closures and delays of up to 20 minutes over the next month during blasting activities, scheduled to occur one to two times a week between 9 a.m. and noon.

The work is necessary for the crew to prepare to build temporary construction access roads to both the north and south sides at the bottom of the canyon.  

The first phase of the project, which is expected to take up to 12 months to complete, will include construction of the new bridge as well as construction of the temporary access roads.  There will be limited traffic impacts to motorists during construction because traffic will remain on the existing bridge, while work progresses on constructing the new bridge east of the current bridge.

After the new four-span, steel-plate girder bridge is completed, traffic will be switched to the new bridge. The existing Hell Canyon Bridge will then be dismantled and removed, which is expected to take up to three months. Additional road construction/realignment will be necessary to the north and south of the new bridge. The $14.4 million project is expected to be completed in late 2016.

Motorists are reminded to proceed with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit azdot.gov/SR89HellCanyon, the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.

If you have questions about the project you can email ADOT at projects@azdot.gov or call the agency’s Project Hotline at 1.855.712.8530.