$44.7 million US 60 bridge project reaches halfway point

PHOENIX — A major overhaul of the mountain pass east of Superior has reached a significant milestone, as crews have finished the heavy blasting required to make room for a new bridge on US 60.

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that the $44.7 million project to replace the Queen Creek and Waterfall Canyon bridges is now roughly halfway complete.

The project, which began nearly two years ago, aims to replace aging structures on both sides of the Queen Creek Tunnel with modern spans built to handle heavy commercial and passenger traffic for the next several decades.

Since the project started, workers have conducted 67 blasting operations to remove 89,000 cubic yards of rock and earth. That work was necessary to realign US 60 so it can connect with the new Queen Creek Bridge, which will sit just east of the tunnel.

The focus has now shifted to the structure of the bridge itself. Three of the four massive concrete piers that will support the structure are finished, and work on the final pier and bridge abutments has begun.

What’s next for drivers?

While the project has reached the midway point, there is still a long road ahead for commuters and travelers heading toward Globe.

ADOT officials say work on the lower portions of the bridge will continue for another year. The next major hurdle for drivers will arrive in spring 2027, when crews begin installing bridge girders and the driving deck.

That phase will require intermittent full closures of US 60. To keep things predictable, ADOT plans to limit these closures to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
A multi-day closure is also expected in fall 2027 to officially shift traffic onto the new bridge.

During any full closure, motorists are forced onto a lengthy detour through Winkelman via State Routes 77 and 177. The 68-mile detour includes steep 10% grades and adds significant travel time to the trip.

Out with the old

The current Queen Creek Bridge is a relic of the post-WWII era, dating back to 1949. While ADOT maintains the bridge is safe to drive on, the agency noted it has reached the end of its functional lifespan and does not meet modern design standards.

The new bridge will be 763 feet long and feature 4-foot-wide shoulders, a major upgrade from the narrow passage currently in place. Nearby, the Waterfall Canyon Bridge is being replaced by two large box culverts, a process that is also about 50% finished.

The entire project, including the dismantling of the old 1949 bridge and site restoration, isn’t expected to wrap up until mid-2028.

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