ADOT sets daytime lane restrictions on US 191 north of St. Johns

US 191 north of St. Johns narrowed to one lane on June 15 as Arizona Department of Transportation crews began daytime restrictions tied to summer pavement work at the Little Colorado River Bridge. The 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. restriction between mileposts 335 and 336 slowed traffic on Apache County’s main highway connection, affecting commuters, ranch traffic, school-related trips and freight moving through the area.

ADOT said residential and business access remained open during construction, but drivers should expect frequent stops and extra travel time. On US 191, alternating northbound and southbound traffic moved through the work zone under flagger control and a pilot car, a setup meant to keep vehicles moving while crews work in the bridge area.

The lane restriction is part of a larger $6.2 million pavement rehabilitation project in the City of St. Johns that spans about 2 miles of US 180 and about a quarter-mile of US 191. ADOT said the work is expected to be completed by fall. The project extends between 24th West Street and the Little Colorado River overpass east of Water Street, placing the repairs in the heart of the city’s highway corridor.

The scope goes well beyond new asphalt. Crews are milling and replacing pavement, building new sidewalks and ADA-compliant ramps, and adding curb and gutter, guardrails, drainage improvements, pavement markings and signage. The agency’s project listing places the work on US 180 from mileposts 366.92 to 368.93 and on US 191 from mileposts 315.55 to 315.72, underscoring that the most visible shutdowns are part of a tightly focused construction zone.

Bids for the project opened Dec. 19, 2025, and the low bid came in at $6,174,827.07 from W.W. Clyde & Co. St. Johns, the Apache County seat, had a population of 3,417 in the 2020 census, which makes this stretch especially important for local travel, business access and through traffic that depends on the city’s highway links.

ADOT maintains more than 27,000 maintenance lane miles statewide, and it directed motorists to check AZ511 for current restrictions and project updates as the work continued through the summer. Whether the project delivers a lasting fix or only relieves the roughest stretches, US 191 remains one of the county’s most important roadways, and the next few months will show how far this repair reaches.