State transportation officials are recommending spending $33.7 million for a safe reopening of five miles of State Route 88, also known as Apache Trail, that was damaged by flooding and erosion.

“Subject to funds becoming available, we are proposing improvements that would reduce the chances of future damage from storms and enhance safety for motorists,” said Paul Patane, multimodal planning division director for the Arizona Department of Transportation.

“We understand State Route 88’s place in the hearts of many Arizonans and have a recommendation that prioritizes safety and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”

There is no funding identified for a project on the unpaved stretch, according to ADOT, though the state is seeking federal funding.

SR 88 closed in 2019 between Fish Creek Hill Overlook and Apache Lake Marina Road “when torrential rain onto the adjacent Woodbury Fire scar extensively damaged the gravel roadway and left a section blocked by boulders,” ADOT officials stated in a release.

The storm also damaged the drainage system, guardrail and bridge approaches and left unstable rock faces, creating safety issues and making the road vulnerable to additional damage and closures, they said.

Traveling between the East Valley and Roosevelt Lake, Apache Trail was built for construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which was completed in 1911.

Prior to closing in 2019, the stretch between Tortilla Flat and Apache Lake was used by an average of 232 vehicles daily, according to ADOT.

For more on the ADOT study and SR 88: azdot.gov/SR88Study.