Interstate 17 in Arizona closed because of snow; travel discouraged

The Arizona Department of Public Safety and state's Department of Transportation said the state is experiencing heavy snow in the high country. (The Trucker file photo)

The Trucker News Services

12/7/2009

The Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department of Transportation are encouraging travelers not to travel in high country the next 48 hours because of heavy snowfall.

The agencies reported these problems late Monday afternoon:

•Northbound Interstate 17 closed near the Yavapai-Coconino county line due to several collisions and semi tractor-trailers stuck in the travel lanes

•Northbound SR 87 is restricted in the Strawberry and Pine area due to heavy snowfall

•Eastbound SR 260 restricted to chains or four-wheel drive east of Payson

At this time several areas of northern Arizona are experiencing heavy snowfall with limited visibility, the agencies said.  The roadway surfaces are slippery and may be impassable due to rapid snow accumulation, especially in Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties. Interstate 17 northbound is blocked at milepost 310.5 near the Yavapai and Coconino county line due to several tractor-trailers which have collided and are stuck in both lanes of traffic. State Route 87 is restricted to four-wheel drive vehicles only northbound from milepost 265. State Route 260 is also restricted to chains or four-wheel drive east of Payson in the Christopher Creek area at milepost 277. The majority of snow problems are on I-17 just north of Camp Verde to Flagstaff.

The agencies said they had experienced problems with rock falls in the Copper Canyon area south of Camp Verde and in Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona. In addition, many state highways now require snow chains or four wheel drive. DPS officers have been investigating several weather related collisions since early this morning along with providing assistance to numerous motorists that have either slid off of the roadway or become disabled in the snow. Other parts of the state are experiencing rain which also creates slippery roadway surfaces.

DPS urges all motorists to slow down and be very attentive to changing weather, road and traffic conditions while driving with extreme caution. In addition, DPS recommends delaying travel to areas in Northern Arizona affected by the snowfall during the next 48 hours if at all possible.

For current road and weather conditions please visit the ADOT Web site at www.az511.com.

The Trucker staff can be reached for comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com