Work begins in late September on 4.4 miles of highway
Contributed Article/Courtesy ADOT
SAFFORD – The Arizona Department of Transportation is scheduled to kick off a project Monday, Sept. 29, to replace 4.4 miles of pavement on State Route 70 in the communities of Safford and Thatcher.
The $12.2 million project is taking place between Reay Street at milepost 335.6 in Thatcher and 8th Street at milepost 340 in Safford. The work will include:
• Improving sidewalk ramps to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards
• Improving driveways
• Repairing a box culvert at milepost 337
• Repairing drainage elements
• Replacing signs
The pavement work is expected to begin in early 2026, when crews will remove the top layer of asphalt and then install new pavement.
Motorists should expect intermittent daytime restrictions for driveway and sidewalk ramp work, as well as nighttime restrictions to remove and replace the asphalt. The work will involve temporary closures of cross streets and driveways. Traffic signals will be turned off at times, and law enforcement will direct traffic.
The project is expected to be complete in spring 2026.
