Arizona county picks up $25M grant to build bridge across Verde River

PHOENIX – Yavapai County was awarded $25 million in grant money to build a bridge over the Verde River near State Route 260, officials announced Tuesday.

The bridge and its 1.7-mile, two-lane road will connect the northeastern section of Camp Verde at Middle Verde Road and part of the Yavapai-Apache Nation to the highway.

The funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation was one of 91 projects across the country selected. The federal agency said it received more than 850 applications.

The county applied in July 2018, “following a frenetic assembly of information and written support from a wide range of communities, agencies, and dignitaries,” county Public Works Department Director Dan Cherry said in a statement.

“The regional effort paid off immensely.”

An overview of the project estimated cost close to $30 million but the bridge would give the tribes better access off their land.

The Verde River splits the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

The bridge also would reduce emergency response times and a way across the river would help with “jobs, shopping and other essential services,” the announcement said.

The federal government said the grants supported road, rail, transit and port infrastructure projects.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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