SR87 Landslide Update 

"Crews are working today to excavate the earth slope where the landslide occurred in an effort to flatten and stabilize the slope.  This excavated material is being hauled away from the scene. When we finish that excavation we will know better how to address the pavement repair."

Reporters and photographers must stay out of the construction zone.

At this time, ADOT is not, repeat, IS NOT, making any announcement as to projected opening date for that section of State Route 87. We are not guessing Monday, as previous media reports have stated.

Here are the facts as we know it:

• ADOT in cooperation with DPS has closed State Route 87 between SR 188 and the Bush Highway for safety reasons
• The closure is the result of a land slide from an earthen slope adjacent to the highway
• The land slide near Slate Creek (milepost 224) has caused sections of the pavement to buckle
• ADOT does not have an anticipated date of reopening SR 87, previously known as the Beeline Highway
• ADOT has engineers on site to assess what actions can be taken to safely reopen the highway
• ADOT is working in cooperation with the Tonto National Forest to identify ways to stabilize the earth slope
• Motorists are being detoured by using US 60 and SR 188 through Globe, or via Interstate 17 and SR 260 
• Motorists can dial 511 for roadway information; or the website at az511.com 
• We appreciate the understanding of motorists as they take detours to travel between the Valley and Payson area during this holiday weekend.

Attached are several photos which show the SR 87 landslide area from the air. These photos provide a much different perspective on the problem and the complexity of the potential solutions. I have also included some photos from the ground that were taken some distance away from the roadway.

Please credit the Arizona Department of Transportation; for the shots from the air, please credit ADOT/AZDPS. Even if you don't directly use them, we would hope that these better illustrate what occurred on the scene, and why safety is such a concern.

Also, please reiterate the detours for motorists; you have been very helpful in that matter. The closure and detour info is the same and we are not predicting a re-opening date; repeat, ADOT is not predicting a re-opening date.