TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Update: August 25, 3:20 p.m.: Pima County Department of Transportation released the following statement:
Gates Pass Road from Kinney Road to Via Scaramuzzo, has been reopened. Repairs have been made to the segment of the road that was damaged by the recent storm events.
On Monday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 2, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., the Pima County Department of Transportation, along with their contractor, Southern Arizona Paving, will be performing installation of ford walls on Gates Pass Road, one half mile east of Kinney Road.
Flaggers will be on site to direct, monitor and control traffic movements through the construction zone. One lane will remain open, while the adjacent lane will be used as an active work zone. Due to the work area limitations, turn movements within the project limits may be restricted during this work. Minor delays may also occur. Please approach the area with caution, obey all traffic control devices and allow for extra travel time.
In the event of mechanical failure or inclement weather, the maintenance schedule is subject to change.
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Nearly five miles of Gates Pass Road, from Via Scaramuzzo to Kinney Road has been closed due to damage caused by recent storms.
More than an inch of rain fell along Gates Pass near the road crossing Sunday. The Pima County Regional Flood Control District's ALERT station near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum recorded three-quarters of an inch of rain over a span of 35 minutes.
The Pima County Department of Transportation (PCDOT) described the extent of the damage in a statement.
"Gates Pass Road was impacted by storm activity that resulted in significant water flow and damage to the roadway. A section of the road was washed out, making the roadway unsafe for public travel. PCDOT is working with a Job Order Contract (JOC) contractor to address the damage and expedite the necessary repairs to get Gates Pass Road reopened."
The closure caught many drivers like Ann Pauley by surprise, forcing them to turn around and find alternate routes.
"I did not know this was closed, so now it's going to take me another half hour, 45 minutes to go all the way around the mountains, the Tucson mountains, up Ajo to Kinney Road and out. So it's going to be quite an adventure today," Pauley said.
Pauley said she has lived in the area for about two decades and has not experienced a closure like this in a long time.
"I've been out here for about 20 years, and the only other time that it was really closed is when they did the repaving," Pauley said. "But I have not experienced Gates Pass being closed before - other than, you know, momentarily for accidents or something, but not road closed."
Pima County said the road will remain closed until emergency repairs are completed and it is safe for travel.
"We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation while we work to resolve the issue and restore access to Gates Pass Road," PCDOT said in a statement.
Commuters who use Gates Pass should seek alternate routes. Sections of Gates Pass Road outside of the full road closure area will be open to local traffic.
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Vanessa Gongora is KGUN 9's Westside reporter.. Vanessa fell in love with storytelling by growing up in sports. She was fascinated by how sports reporters go beyond the x's & o's to tell players' stories, and how sports bring people together, inspiring Vanessa to provide the same impact as a journalist. Share your story ideas and important issues with Vanessa by emailing vanessa.gongora@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
