Tag Archives: Arizona

Grand Canyon Boulevard FULL closure under Interstate 40 in Williams scheduled April 16

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WILLIAMS – Drivers who use Interstate 40 in northern Arizona are advised to plan for travel delays as crews return to complete paving, bridge and intersection work between Parks and Williams.

On Tuesday, April 16, crews will close Grand Canyon Boulevard in both directions under I-40 to perform roadway reconstruction. This three-week closure will also include the eastbound I-40 on- and off-ramp. The following detour will be in place:

  • Southbound Grand Canyon Boulevard traffic will enter westbound I-40 via Country Club Road (exit 161).
  • Northbound Grand Canyon Boulevard to eastbound I-40 traffic will head eastbound on Historic Route 66 to enter eastbound I-40 at Williams/Grand Canyon (exit 165).
  • Northbound Grand Canyon Boulevard to westbound I-40 traffic will head westbound on Historic Route 66 to enter westbound I-40 at Country Club Road (exit 161).
  • Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit Country Club Road (exit 161).

In addition, the following ramp closures and detours are scheduled while crews repair the on- and off- ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard:

  • From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 29, through Friday, May 3, crews will close the westbound I-40 off-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard. DETOUR: Westbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at State Route 64 (exit 165).
  • From 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 6, through Friday, May 10, crews will close the westbound I-40 on-ramp at Grand Canyon Boulevard. DETOUR: Eastbound I-40 traffic accessing Williams will exit at Country Club Road (exit 161).

The eastbound and westbound I-40 ramps at Grand Canyon Boulevard will NOT be closed at the same time.

In early summer, crews will put down new asphalt on 17 miles of I-40 pavement in both directions between Parks and Williams. The project also includes a final layer of asphalt, known as friction course, to further improve the roadway surface, as well as installation of guardrail, striping and signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

Motorists should allow extra travel time and plan for possible delays while work is underway.

Mormon Lake Road north entrance to close

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FLAGSTAFF — The north entrance of Mormon Lake Road is scheduled to be closed from Tuesday, April 9 to Thursday, April 11 while crews replace the cattleguard approximately 0.4 miles north of Rockledge Road. During this period, motorists will access Mormon Lake Road through the south entrance.

Cattleguard replacement is a preconstruction job for the Central Federal Lands’ Mormon Lake Road Reconstruction Project, which is scheduled to break ground this summer. Due to a wet winter, the base of the cattleguard is saturated and a detour around the cattleguard is not possible because of the wet conditions on the adjacent shoulders.

To replace the cattleguard, crews must first remove it to “de-water” its base, which includes a significant layer of subterranean clay. After this “de-watering” stage is completed, crews will install large rocks, fabric and slurry as bridging material before adding the new cattleguard.

Coconino County Public Works has deployed electronic message boards at the north entrance of Mormon Lake Road and just north of the township to alert residents of the upcoming closure. Motorists are asked to plan for and expect delays when traveling.

This project is slated to be completed by Thursday afternoon. However, the schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

For more information about the Mormon Lake Road Reconstruction Project please visit www.coconino.az.gov/MormonLakeRoadProject.

Townsend-Winona Pavement Repair Project breaking ground next week

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FLAGSTAFF — Repairs to a four-mile stretch of Townsend-Winona Road will start next week. Coconino County secured a $1.4 million emergency maintenance contract with C & E Paving and Grading for the construction of the Townsend-Winona Road Repair Project.

Funded by Prop. 403, the project was approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 2, 2019. It includes milling of two inches of existing asphalt and the installation of approximately 2.5 inches of asphalt on the travel lanes and shoulders of Townsend-Winona Road between U.S. Highway 89 and just east of Rio Rancho Road. This section of roadway was severely impacted by freeze/thaw cycles that created numerous potholes along the roadway during the winter. Left unrepaired, the pavement would continue to deteriorate and require a complete reconstruction.

“I would like to thank all the constituents who reached out to my office with their concerns regarding the conditions on Townsend-Winona Road,” said District 4 Supervisor Jim Parks, whose district includes Townsend-Winona Road. “After contacting the County’s Public Works Department, we quickly came up with a plan to address the issue. I am excited to see that the needed repair work will begin very soon. I would like to thank Public Works Director Lucinda Andreani for her quick action and attention to this matter.”

Repairs will be conducted between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday with additional weekend work possible. Flaggers, signage and other traffic control devices will be in place as needed to direct vehicles through the construction zone. Drivers can expect delays during the approximate three weeks of construction. The schedule is subject to change based on weather or other factors.

“This project is a good example of how Prop. 403 funds allow the County to address unforeseen road issues quickly and effectively,” said District 1 Supervisor and Board Chairman Art Babbott. “Repairing this section of Townsend-Winona Road now rather than having to rebuild it later is the kind of cost-effective solution that allows the County to conduct ongoing road maintenance and pavement preservation projects to help to extend the service life of roads in our inventory.”

The Townsend-Winona Pavement Project Construction and traffic control information for this project will be available on the “Coconino County Roads” Facebook page and on the project’s web page at www.coconino.az.gov/TownsendWinonaProject.

ADOT to finish State Route 260 widening project in Camp Verde

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PHOENIX – After a wet and cold fall that forced an early winter hiatus, the Arizona Department of Transportation is set to return later this month to complete a State Route 260 widening project that will enhance travel and mobility between Camp Verde and Cottonwood.

Starting April 17, crews will begin laying the final layer of asphalt along the widened 9-mile stretch of SR 260. Paving will take about two weeks and require lane closures in each direction while crews work.

After paving is complete, crews will add permanent lane stripes, rumble strips and pavement reflectors. In all, the work is expected to take about six weeks.

The $62 million project widened SR 260 between Interstate 17 and Thousand Trails Road to a four-lane divided highway and added seven roundabouts to major intersections, including two new locations for future development.

The widening project also added a multi-use path between Wilshire and Cherry Creek roads and a new bridge over Cherry Creek.

For more information on this project, visit azdot.gov/projects and click on North Central District.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Bilingual Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or go to azdot.gov/contact and select Projects from the drop-down menu. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

Arrest Made in Blue Ridge Homicide

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Patrick D. Nagal, booking photo – CCSO

HAPPY JACK – On March 30 around 3:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a partially decomposed body at Bly Pit in the Blue Ridge area.

Detectives were able to make a preliminary identification of the victim as 37-year-old Tika Young of Happy Jack, Arizona. The ID is still pending by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office.

With the preliminary identification, CCSO detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the community where they discovered evidence of a crime. During the search, they identified a person of interest. The person of interest was Patrick D. Nagel, 62-years-old of Happy Jack.

Nagal was brought into the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During an interview with Detectives, the person admitted to striking the victim several times while the victim was lying in bed. The subject then moved the victim and concealed her in the area identified as Bly Pit where her body was subsequently found.

Nagel was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail for First Degree Homicide, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Abandonment/Concealment of a Dead Body, and Consuming Liquor While Operating a Vehicle.

Arizona Sheriff’s Adopt Ready, Set, Go! Program

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Although Northern Arizona enjoyed a wet winter, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like people to be prepared for the spring, a time when the forest and grass lands dry out and are more vulnerable to wild fire. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office wants you to be prepared. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be posting information on the Coconino Sheriff Facebook page to help you take proactive measures as outlined by Ready, Set, Go!

The fifteen Arizona Sheriff’s adopted Ready, Set, Go! (RSG), a program that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency. Ready, Set, Go is the standard language that will issued to the public and actions to follow when communities are threatened by wildfire. The program’s three tenets encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

“The Sheriffs of Arizona have partnered with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, fire community and emergency management to provide information to help the public and our communities prepare for situations that could result in evacuations,” said Sheriff Jim Driscoll.

The Ready, Set, Go! program highlights actions residents should take during each step:

READY: “Prepare now”

  • Be aware of hazards that can threaten your community.
  • Register for Smart 911 Emergency Notifications
  • Create defensible space around your home by keeping grass mowed short and trimming vegetation.
  • Build an emergency supplies kit. Start with the five P’s: people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items.

SET: “Be alert”

  • There is significant danger in your area.
  • Consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area.
  • This might be the only notice you receive.

GO!: “Evacuate”

  • Danger in your area is current and life-threatening.
  • Evacuate immediately to a shelter or to family/friends outside the affected area.
  • Follow instructions from emergency personnel, and stay on designated evacuation routes.

The Ready, Set, Go! program amplifies the common goal of all-hazards preparedness. Successfully preparing for an emergency encourages personal responsibility to protect yourself, your family and your property. Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network at https://ein.az.gov to learn more about hazards in the state and how to prepare. For additional Ready, Set, Go! information, follow the Coconino County Sheriff’s Facebook page and follow @AzEIN on Twitter

Body Found at Bly Pit in Blue Ridge

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HAPPY JACK, Arizona – On Saturday, March 30, 2019 around 3:30 pm, the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased body found at Bly Pit in the Blue Ridge area. Investigators responded to the scene and located the body of a female. The body had undergone some decomposition. There was no identification on the deceased person and Detectives and the Medical Examiner’s Office are working to identify the deceased. The death is being investigated as a homicide. There is no further information being released at this time.

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on proposed expansion of Forest Service campground south of Tusayan

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TUSAYAN – The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public input and comments on a proposed project to remodel and expand the popular Ten X Campground located south of Tusayan about 5 miles south of the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park.

The Ten X Campground Expansion project is designed to increase overnight camping opportunities for visitors to the area and improve overall experience by upgrading aging facilities and adding amenities. Specifically, the proposed expansion would increase capacity from the current 70 individual campsites to a total of 300. Existing sites would undergo remodeling while new sites would be added, thereby expanding the overall campground footprint.

The proposed remodeling of existing sites and the addition of new sites would increase Ten X Campground’s ability to accommodate large RVs, which have become increasingly popular since the campground’s original construction in the early 1970s. The campground would also provide additional small group sites as well as individual tent sites. In order to facilitate the construction of the new camping loops, a new roadway would be established as a larger loop surrounding the current campground. Two egress routes are also being proposed in order to better facilitate any future emergency evacuation.

Proposed campground remodeling would include the installation of a new multilingual entrance station; the development of visitor common areas with ramada structures, grills, fire rings, and picnic tables; and, the addition of an amphitheater for campfire talks. Included with the proposed expansion is the possibility of modernizing the existing utilities.

In order to enhance the visitor experience and provide conservation education venues, the Kaibab National Forest is proposing the development of new nature and interpretive trails, including a trail connecting Ten X Campground to Tusayan and the Arizona National Scenic Trail, as well as an opportunity to site a future interagency visitor center at the location.

“Ten X Campground is frequently filled to capacity due to its popular location,” said Dutch Maatman, assistant recreation staff officer with the Kaibab National Forest. “We are excited about the opportunity to not only support the increased number of visitors to the area but also to provide them with a better overall camping experience.”

Ten X Campground on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest was originally constructed in the early 1970s, and currently offers 70 individual sites, two large group sites, one host site, several vault toilets, paved roads, and a potable drinking water system. Since the development of Ten X Campground, there have been only minor expansions and updates, leaving it vulnerable to overcrowding and visitor use conflicts.

The Kaibab National Forest encourages public participation in the development of proposed projects and is seeking input and comments on the Ten X Campground Expansion project. Specific, written comments should be received no later than March 29.

Comments must be in writing and may be delivered electronically, in person, or by mail or facsimile. Electronic comments, including attachments, may be emailed to comments-southwestern-kaibab-williams@fs.fed.us. Comments may be submitted electronically in Word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), Adobe portable document formats (PDF), or HyperText Markup Language (.html). Submit comments via hand delivery (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) or mail to: Kaibab National Forest, Williams Ranger District, 742 South Clover Road, Williams, Arizona 86046. Please marks comments “Attention: Ten X Campground Expansion.”

To view the full proposed action and other information related to the Ten X Campground Expansion project, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55626. For questions, please contact Dutch Maatman at (928) 635-5661 or jmaatman@fs.fed.us.

Kaibab National Forest information is also available through the following sources:

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
• Flickr: http://bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos

Sonoran Corridor report available for review

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PHOENIX ‒ A report describing how the Arizona Department of Transportation reduced the potential routes for the proposed Sonoran Corridor from dozens of options to three recommended for further study, along with the no-build alternative, is now available for review and comment.

The Sonoran Corridor Draft Corridor Selection Report explains how factors such as growth, economic benefits, environmental impacts and feasibility contributed to identifying these alternatives in the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.

Public comment on the report is invited through Monday, April 22. Public comment on a public meeting held March 7 in Tucson is invited through Sunday, April 7.

The Sonoran Corridor would connect Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 south of Tucson International Airport. The Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which started in May 2017, evaluates multiple 2,000-foot-wide corridors and the no-build option. A Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected in late 2019 with a preferred alternative for public review. A Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected by spring 2020.

The next phase would include a Tier 2 study to locate an approximately 400-foot-wide route within corridor identified as the preferred alternative. The timeline and funding for the Tier 2 study haven’t been identified.

ADOT has held four public meetings about the Sonoran Corridor over the past two years. Comments received at those meetings are included in the draft Corridor Selection Report and are being considered along with input from area businesses and governments, including Pima County and the cities of Tucson and Sahuarita.

To see the draft reports, visit azdot.gov/Sonoran Corridor. Click on the Documents tab to see the draft Corridor Selection Report, and click on the Alternatives tab to see a map of the three corridors that have been recommended for further study. A no-build option also remains under consideration.

The public can submit questions or comments in the following ways:

  • Email: SonoranCorridor@azdot.gov
  • Phone: The ADOT Bilingual Project Information Line: 855-712-8530
  • Mail: Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS Study Team c/o Joanna Bradley, 1221 S. Second Ave., Mail Drop T100, Tucson, AZ 85713

Investigation of Homicide in Doney Park

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FLAGSTAFF – Sheriff’s deputies respond to a domestic violence call at about 7 a.m. yesterday. A reporting party notified the Sheriff’s department that a male fled the scene.

The deputies found 35-year-old Crystal L. Morgan of Doney Park on the scene with several stab wounds. Medical assistance was summoned and she was pronounced dead on the scene.

Deputies sought 38-year-old Timothy M. Duran, Morgan’s ex-husband. The Sheriff’s department received information that the vehicle of the suspect was headed southbound on I-17. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted Coconino in stopping the vehicle on the I-17 at about 9:30.

Duran was booked into into the Coconino County Detention Facility on charges of First-Degree Homicide and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Crystal Morgan was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office which will conduct an autopsy and further investigation to determine cause of death. The investigation is on-going.