Two popular state routes used by visitors to Eastern Arizona's White Mountains are closing for the winter today (Tuesday, January 2), the Arizona Department of Transportation announced last week.
State Route 261, which runs south from State Route 260 near Eagar to State Route 273 at Crescent Lake, will close between Milepost 404.9 and Crescent Lake. And SR 273 will close between Sunrise Park and the route's southern terminus at Big Lake.
As ADOT noted, the routes are among a handful of state routes that normally close in winter and reopen in spring. The others, which closed earlier, are the North Rim Parkway (State Route 67), which runs from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon; State Route 473, which leads from SR 260 to Hawley Lake in the White Mountains; and part of State Route 366 up Mount Graham, near Safford.
Regardless of where you're traveling in Arizona's high country, it's important to be prepared for winter weather this time of year. You can get tips for winter driving at www.azdot.gov/KnowSnow, and you can get real-time highway conditions by visiting ADOT's information site, www.az511.gov.