By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
PIMA — High water along the Gila River continues to disrupt local travel across Graham County after surging overnight runoff Wednesday forced public safety authorities to close multiple river crossings.
While the Pima Bridge at Main Street in Pima reopened on Thursday morning at approximately 9:45 a.m., the Eden Bridge at Bryce/Eden Road and the Fort Thomas Bridge remained closed as of Friday because floodwaters swept across approach roads. Public safety officials note that conditions are continuing to improve and expect the Eden Bridge to reopen over the weekend, if it has not already done so.
Motorists are strongly advised not to bypass barricades or attempt to cross standing or moving water near any river crossings. Public safety officials stress that road conditions can change rapidly and driving through flooded roadways poses severe risks. On Friday, the water was roughly three feet deep across the road. The floodwaters spread into adjacent fallow fields.
In Greenlee County, flooding previously impacted U.S. Highway 70 near Duncan after an overflowing wash knocked approximately 40 telephone poles into a culvert and a small landslide deposited mud and debris onto the roadway. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) cleared the landslide debris, and highways across the region remain under monitoring as runoff moves downstream.
Local public safety agencies urge residents to stay clear of the Gila River banks, low-water crossings, and flooded areas. Drivers heading through the area should keep checking road conditions, seek alternate routes, and allow extra travel time while crews work to safely reopen the remaining crossings.
