ADOT warns of delays on US 60 as two Apache County projects resume

Commuters, school traffic, medical trips, freight and tourists moving between Show Low and Springerville should expect slower travel on US 60 as the Arizona Department of Transportation restarts two White Mountains projects, including a 16-mile rehabilitation job in Apache County and a separate passing-lanes project east of Show Low.

The heavier disruption starts Thursday, May 28, when crews resume work between State Route 61 and Wildcat Creek after a winter hiatus. That project runs from milepost 352.8 to 369.2 and carries a $9.5 million price tag. ADOT said lane restrictions will be in place from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with traffic reduced to one lane in 3-mile alternating segments, flaggers and a pilot car guiding vehicles, and a 12-foot vehicle-width limit in the work zone. No work is scheduled on weekends or state holidays.

ADOT said the rehabilitation work should be finished by mid-June, with crews returning about 30 days later to permanently stripe the new roadway section. The job includes milling the travel lanes and replacing them with asphaltic concrete and chip seal, along with milling and replacing turnouts and pullouts, shoulder buildup, guardrail replacement, drainage improvements, seeding and pavement markings.

A second project, east of Show Low between Little Mormon Lake Road and Bell Spring, will add passing lanes in both directions from milepost 345.71 to 346.93. That $4.5 million job will keep one lane of traffic open in each direction during construction, with work planned Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. No work is scheduled Fridays, weekends or holidays. The project also includes roadway and shoulder widening, pipe culvert extensions, new pavement, ground-in rumble strips, drainage, signage and pavement markings.

For drivers who use US 60 as the main link through eastern Apache County, the worst backups are most likely during the weekday work windows, when both projects will have active lane control and reduced speeds. ADOT is telling motorists to plan for extra travel time, expect frequent stops and check AZ511 or call 511 for real-time traffic updates before leaving home.