PHOENIX – After nearly a week of lockdown in both directions, US 60 east of Metro Phoenix reopened on Friday with a shiny new bridge. The new Pinto Creek Bridge replaced a 72-year-old structure on the only highway between Superior and Miami. The $ 22.7 million project began almost two years ago. US 60 was closed Sunday night to Friday noon shortly before noon so that the crews could realign the lane to the bridge, said the Arizona Department of Transportation in a press release. Traffic was diverted to State Routes 77 and 177 during the closure by Winkleman, adding about an hour to travel time between Superior and Miami. The nearly 700 foot long bridge is located approximately 120 km east of downtown Phoenix. It has two lanes of traffic in each direction with four-foot wide hard shoulders and can handle heavier loads than the old one, which opened in 1949 and lasted 22 years past its estimated lifespan. “US 60 is a critical route for automobiles and commercial traffic, including heavy loads from nearby mines,” said Bill Harmon, engineer for ADOT’s southeastern district, in the press release. “By completing this new bridge on Pinto Creek, we will ensure that the highway will remain reliable and safe for decades to come.” About 7,200 vehicles per day should use the bridge, ADOT said. Motorists should expect occasional lane restrictions through the end of the year as crews work to remove the old bridge and return the site to its natural state. Follow @ ktar923
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