State Route 273 reopens in eastern Arizona

Highway closed for several weeks due to Wallow Fire

                                                                                      

PHOENIX - State Route 273 in the White Mountains was reopened this afternoon after being closed for more than a month due to the Wallow Fire, which started on May 29. ADOT closed the highway as a public safety measure to prevent motorists from traveling in the area affected by the wildfire. The fire eventually made its way to SR 273 and jumped the highway.l

SR 261, the other main access road to Big Lake and Crescent Lake in Apache County, remains closed at this time. The highway will reopen once all guardrail damaged by the fire has been repaired.

These two highways in White Mountain country were originally closed on June 2. At one point, the Wallow Fire forced the closure of seven highways, including nearly 200 miles of roadway on SR 260, SR 261, SR 273, SR 373, US 60, US 180 and US 191. ADOT has reopened most of these highways.

Motorists are reminded that SR 366 is still 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 http://www.az511.gov/ or call 5-1-1.