ADOT reopens US 191 in eastern Arizona

State Routes 261 and 273 in White Mountains remain closed due to Wallow Fire cleanup
                                                                                
PHOENIX – Thirty-five days after the largest wildfire in state history forced a 77-mile closure, US 191 reopened between Alpine and Clifton (mileposts 176-253) this morning in eastern Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The highway, which was the first to close due to the Wallow Fire on June 1, is the latest highway in the White Mountains region to reopen to the public, following State Route 260, US 60, SR 373 and US 180. SR 273 has also been partially reopened, allowing motorists into the popular Sunrise Ski area again.

Across the state, ADOT has reopened nearly 250 miles of state highways that were closed due to several major wildfires since June 12.

ADOT reminds motorists that approximately 50 miles of state highways remain closed due to fire suppression and repair efforts or due to the threat of wildfires:

• State Routes 261 and 273, the main access roads to Big Lake and Crescent Lake are closed. SR 261 is closed between the SR 260 junction and SR 273 junction (mileposts 395-413) and SR 273 is closed south of the Sunrise Ski area to the SR 261 junction (mileposts 383-394).
• In southern Arizona, SR 366 is closed leading up to Mount Graham (mileposts 118-143) near Safford after the U.S. Forest Service determined the risk of wildfire is too extreme to allow access.

Additional information on the wildfires can be obtained through the Arizona Division of Emergency Management at http://www.azein.gov. To stay up-to-date on the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 5-1-1.