Beeline Highway Closed!

[TurboMonster]

Beeline Highway Closed For An Indefinite Period...

Road from Phoenix to Payson closed
12 News/The Associated Press
Mar. 21, 2008 07:59 PM

A pavement prolem has closed the main highway between Phoenix and Payson for an indefinite period of time.

An Arizona Dept. of Transportation spokesman says the roadway of State Route 87 buckled near milepost 224, about halfway between the cities.

A spring bubbling up through the surface led to erosion of the roadway and a land slide, said Dept. of Public Safety Officer Mark Oreskovich.

Crews are on the scene, but will be unable to fully assess the damage until Saturday morning. Only after that evaluation is complete will ADOT be able to estimate when the road will re-open.

DPS officers and Gila County sheriff’s deputies are diverting northbound traffic off the road, also known as the Beeline Highway, at the Saguaro lake turnoff. Southbound traffic is being diverted onto State Route 188 into Tonto Basin and toward Globe.

Motorists trying to get between Phoenix and Payson are advised to use Interstate 17 and State Route 260. While a trip from downtown Phoenix to Payson via SR 87 is 89 miles, taking the alternate route would be a trip of 147 miles.

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news...212008-CR.html

[TurboMonster]

Here's some alternate routs to Payson. Also, the Beeline is open to Bush High way and loop back through Usury Pass.

I heard to can go up to Four Peaks Road as well. If the road is "officially Closed" does the speed limit on that six mile stretch still apply?