All lanes of Interstate 17 in both directions have reopened after Sunday’s downpours and local flooding in Arizona. Other state roads remain closed, however, and Prescott has declared a state of emergency.
Heavy rain swept across Arizona on Sunday, Nov. 1, triggering flash floods and rockslides and forcing road closures across the state. I-17 was closed for several hours: southbound at milepost 337 near Pulliam Airport in Flagstaff, and northbound at State Route 179. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the lanes reopened before 3 p.m.
As of Sunday afternoon, ADOT had given no estimated reopening time for several other stretches. State Route 89A is closed between Sedona and Kachina Village (mileposts 375–397), as are State Route 73 between Indian Pine and Whiteriver and State Route 238 between Maricopa and Gila Bend. State Route 260 at milepost 350 was briefly closed, and traffic was restored at about 4:30 p.m. ADOT reminds drivers not to enter flooded roadways or dry riverbeds (washes), to expect delays and to use caution.
In Prescott, Mayor Cathey Rusing declared a state of emergency after continuous, heavy rainfall. According to the city, the Watson Lake dam (Granite Dam) overflowed on Sunday. The upper Goldwater lakes also overflowed, and the lower one is being monitored. All low water crossings, a dozen or so streets and Granite Creek Park are closed. Some traffic signals are out, and the city advises treating those intersections as four-way stops. A shelter for affected residents has been set up in the gym on the Yavapai College campus in Prescott, at 1100 E. Sheldon.
Salt River Project (SRP) is increasing water releases from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams to 54,000 cubic feet per second. SRP said water from earlier releases would reach the Phoenix Valley late Sunday night. Larger releases are expected to arrive by 6 p.m. Monday. They could last several days and increase overnight, depending on inflows to the reservoirs.
The city of Tempe has closed Tempe Town Lake to all water recreation until further notice because of increased flow and the risk of debris washing in. The closure covers kayaks, paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards, rowing and sailing, among other activities. The lake’s dam is operating as designed. Staff will inspect the lake daily and reopen it when it is safe. In Sedona, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Zones 8, 9 and 10 along Oak Creek.
Source: AZFamily
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