SEDONA — Oak Creek Canyon’s main highway is still closed after rising floodwaters chewed into the road, according to a release from the Arizona Department of Transportation.
ADOT said Wednesday, Nov. 4, that crews are working to repair flood-damaged sections of State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon.
The agency closed the highway on Sunday, Nov. 1, after Oak Creek rose above flood stage. ADOT said the high water undermined portions of the roadway and exposed guardrail supports.
Crews are also clearing debris that washed onto the highway, including boulders, mud and trees, according to the release.
ADOT said there is no estimated time for the work to be finished. SR 89A remains closed between the Owenby Way roundabout in Sedona and Flagstaff.
Drivers traveling between Sedona and Flagstaff are asked to use State Route 179 and Interstate 17 instead.
The agency said all other state highways that were closed by last week’s flooding have reopened.
The closure cuts off one of the state’s most scenic drives, a winding route that connects Sedona’s red rocks with the pine country around Flagstaff. ADOT’s release did not say how many sections were damaged.
Drivers can check current conditions at az511.gov or by calling 511 before heading out.
Sources: Arizona Department of Transportation news release. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Carl E. Jepson / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
