Flagstaff, Arizona — Winter in Flagstaff brought much-needed moisture to northern Arizona, but problems arose when the snow began to melt in the spring.

Roads have been impassable for weeks in some of the worst flooding areas, prompting residents to demand more options.

“Flooded” Intersection

Residents of the Forest Dale area, accessible from Herold Ranch Road, have had their only access to and from the neighborhood flooded for weeks.

“The amount of meltwater inundation that was happening on Herold Ranch Road was unlike anything we’ve experienced before,” Jennifer Kotarik said.

Kotarik and her husband began building a home in this neighborhood in 2001. She recalls weeks of trying to navigate the flooded Rio de Her flag crossing along Herold Ranch her road.

“At least four or five times in the early part of the season we were unable to drive the car,” said Kotarik.

Neighbors used various workarounds and helped each other as best they could, but sometimes the only way to reach Kotarik’s home was by hiking from a nearby forestry road.

“That intersection was flooded,” said Coconino County Public Works Commissioner Christopher Tressler.

Not only did the water rise, Kotarik said, the gravel roads on both sides of the concrete intersection began to pit, and the water was even deeper than signs on the side of the intersection indicated.

Tressler said county teams came with additional materials to restore access for those living in the Forestdale area while the water was still running.

“We are stuck here.”

Tressler said it was impractical to have separate crosswalks for these types of floods.

“It’s a tough situation, but we don’t want to invest millions of dollars because it costs the area millions of dollars to build a crossing that won’t be flooded year after year.” said Tressler.

Kotarik says that in many seasons the crossing is large enough for residents to come and go, but that it’s not just a flood problem.

“Of course it would be great if we built a bridge to deal with the conditions on the river,” Kotharik said. “But that doesn’t solve the big problem of separate access to and from the side of Herold Ranch Road.”

In 2018, Flagstaff residents approved partial funding for the extension. JW Powell Boulevard.

Kotarik said when she moved into the neighborhood with her husband, she did not intend the Rio Defrag intersection to be the only way to get in and out, and the expansion may have helped provide another access road for the neighborhood. I recall.

“We are stuck here and this needs improvement,” Kotarik said.

Tressler pointed to development and the JW Powell extension as a long-term solution.

“If John Wesley Powell can be steered around that intersection, and some of the development goes online, and other roads are built in the area, then the need for that intersection disappears,” Tressler said. said.

The City of Flagstaff declined 12News’ request for an interview regarding the Herold Ranch Road extension and flooding.

“The city is meeting and working with local property owners to explore potential solutions for alternatives to the Rio de Janeiro Transit, but at this time, we have decided to Nothing special,” he told 12 News in an email. .

Extension update is scheduled for the next day city ​​council work session The presentation indicated that as part of the extended update, staff will also be releasing an update on the Herold Ranch Road flooding.

But Kotarik is more concerned about safety than he experienced earlier this year.

“We’ve been waiting really long, but I know you’re scared to hear anything other than vehicle damage. It’s already happened to multiple people I know. No more fatal or dangerous.” I don’t want to hear that it happened to anyone,” Kotarik said. He said.

Slayton Ranch Road Repair

Coconino County is also working on restoration Slayton Ranch Road In Donny Park, the Flagstaff Unified School Bus stopped as the road caved in.

Tresler said the meltwater runoff had caused the culvert to malfunction, leading to the collapse of the road.

Now that the winter season is over, contractors have begun working on the nearly $1 million project, and the county has announced plans to reopen the project by mid-July.

“Frankly, this intersection is too small…we can use the best and most advanced science available to understand how much water flows through it and reduce the amount of water that blocks it. ” said Tressler. “However, this level crossing will be much more robust and substantial than those previously installed.”

Tressler added that community meetings will be held in the coming weeks to get updates on the project.

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