State Route 88, also known as the Apache Trail, will be closed weekly through early May for a roadway paving project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Starting April 8, an 11-mile stretch of SR 88 will be closed in both directions, from the Apache Lake entrance at milepost 229.9 (near Forest Service Road 79) to just west of the Roosevelt Dam Overlook at milepost 240.5. The closure is expected to remain in effect until May 8.
The road will be closed in a series of 48-hour intervals from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Thursday on the following dates: April 8–10, April 15–17, April 29–May 1, and May 6–8, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
An extended closure is also scheduled from 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Thursday, April 21–24.
Drivers traveling east from Phoenix can still access SR 88 but should be prepared for a steep, unpaved section between Fish Creek Vista (milepost 222) and Fish Creek Bridge (milepost 223.5). This segment is only suitable for high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles, and trailers are not permitted.
The Roosevelt Dam Overlook would remain open during the closure via the nearby State Route 188.
The paving began in late 2022 and is part of an $18 million project ADOT oversaw alongside the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway Administration.
ADOT said the project included an existing 11-mile stretch of gravel road into a smooth paved roadway, along with updated drainage features and improved sight lines for drivers.
Follow reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: State Route 88 near Roosevelt Dam to be closed weekly for a month