US 89 between Flagstaff and Page has been reopened after being closed for several days after flooding damaged the roadway late Wednesday night during storms.
Remnants of Hurricane Rosa caused major flooding in the area causing a section of the road to buckle and collapse.
Citing preliminary information, DPS said a woman was driving northbound on US 89 when the roadway began to collapse, and her vehicle sustained major damage.
DPS said she got out of her vehicle and was hit by the driver of a Toyota pickup who was also traveling northbound and lost control of his truck when he crossed over the damaged roadway.
The woman, identified Friday as 26-year-old Amelie Fortune from France, died from her injuries.
Road crews with ADOT worked around the clock following the closure Wednesday night with multiple agencies to reopen the road.
"It's testimony to the dedication of so many ADOT personnel, men and women who responded immediately and worked tirelessly, that residents, tourists, and commercial vehicles are once again using US 89," ADOT Director John Halikowski said. "We're grateful to our partners, including the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County and Federal Highway Administration, who stepped forward to help keep traffic moving through the region and get this critical work done."
Halikowski said the flooding cut through a 30-foot section of US 89 as well as the ground beneath, which required extensive excavations to repair.
US 89 is reopened and here's photographic proof! You can read more about the effort to reopen this stretch of highway in 48 hours at the link below. Reminder, continue to expect reduced speed limits in the area where the work was done. https://t.co/5N4wwgXv3Z pic.twitter.com/ffBolee01z
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) October 6, 2018
Crews hauled in and compacted 500 cubic yards of material to restore the roadway's base, and put down 120 tons of asphalt pavement.
ADOT coordinated with AZDPS, the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe on a temporary detour route using Interstate 40, State Route 87, State Route 264 and US 160 to keep traffic moving through the region.
ADOT intends to see reimbursement for the repairs through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program.
