Bullhead City, AZ – Representative Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-04) issued the following statement in response to the United States Department of Transportation’s decision to award more than $2,405,000 to the Arizona Department of Transportation for emergency relief for the repair of roads in Pinal County that suffered damage as a result of wildfires in 2021.

“I am pleased to announce that the Arizona Department of Transportation will receive these critical funds to make necessary repairs to approximately 18 miles of highways and roads on federal lands in my district that suffered serious damage from the 2021 wildfires.

This funding could not come at a more important time and will be used to make needed repairs to restore safe and essential travel,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Pinal County District 5 Supervisor Jeff Serdy added: “Rural Arizonans appreciate these dollars that will be used to repair US Route 60, which is the main thoroughfare through Arizona to New Mexico. Tourists and residents alike rely on safe, maintained highways and these funds will restore the highway to its pre-wildfire condition.”

Background:

On August 26, 2022, The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a notice of grant award to the Arizona Department of Transportation to provide a Federal Highway Administration grant totaling $2,405,468 for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads on Federal lands that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from an external cause.

Beginning on June 1, 2021, the Mescal Fire originated 12 miles southeast of Globe, AZ. The Telegraph Fire originated on June 4, 2021, one and a half miles southeast of Superior, AZ within the boundaries of the Pinal Mountain range of the Tonto National Forest. Combined, these wildfires damaged approximately 18 miles of barbed wire fence, 55,000 linear feet of guardrail, 50 guardrail end terminals, 50 signs and posts, and 50 roadside delineators along State Route 177 and 77, and US Route 60 and 70.

A summary of the grant can be found by clicking here.