Tag Archives: Bellemont

Bearizona closes for a record number of days

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Williams — The recent snow has caused many businesses to shut down. Even Bearizona Drive-Thru Wildlife park was affected.

In a release, Sean Casey wrote, “After getting 13 more inches of snow last night, we are now at 10 feet! Not surprisingly, it has caused Bearizona to close for a record number of days this snow season.”

The latest snow dropped 13″ of snow in downtown Williams. That caused many of the businesses downtown to shut their doors and hunker down at home. Most restaurants and chain-stores remained open.

According to the Flagstaff Weather Service in Bellemont, Bellemont set a record of 146.7-inches beating out the 2009-2010 winter season. Flagstaff received 140.1-inches of snow this season almost reaching the 1948-1949 season when they received 153.9-inches. Williams received over 90″ of snow this season.The good news is that the sun came out about noon and started melting off the current snow. As the sun set, the temperatures dropped and the melt-off quickly started to freeze. The Weather Service long range forecast shows sunny days ahead through Thursday.

Route 66 On-The-Air again

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Route 66 is on the air.

FLAGSTAFF — Once again the amateur radio operators along Route 66 take to the air waves for the annual Route 66 On-The-Air event. Amateur radio operators, also known as “Hams,” will try to make contacts with other amateur operators from around the world. The event runs from 5 p.m. this Friday, September 11 until 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20 MST.

Glen Davis, KG7YDJ, on the air in Bellemont in 2019.

Amateur radio operators conduct contests and events throughout the year to test equipment by trying to make as many contacts as possible in a specified amount of time. Operators who make contact with all of the Route 66 stations can receive a “QSL” card from each. When they are put together, they make a map of Route 66.

Ron Gerlack and Andrew Gissel WA7DPS work Route 66 On-The-Air in Bellemont last year.

Some of the stations are stationary at the homes of various amateur radio operators and some are rovers that go to different places along Route 66. In the Flagstaff area, Ron Gerlack KG7OH of the Northern Arizona DX Association—the amateur radio club that works the event—takes the Coconino Amateur Radio Club trailer with various amateur radio equipment to various locations along Route 66. The call sign for this roaming station is W6T.

In the past, Ron has set up at Williams, Bellemont, the Grand Canyon Caverns, Twin Arrows, Seligman and a number of other places. This year he plans to set up at Bellemont, again, and along the “S” curve in Parks, Arizona.

At Twin Arrows in 2018.

Transwestern Road changing to Hughes Avenue

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FLAGSTAFF — The name of Transwestern Road in Bellemont is changing to Hughes Avenue. This change is being made in response to concerns expressed by the Ponderosa Fire District and other emergency responders about having two roads in the Bellemont area with very similar names: Transwestern Road, which crosses over Interstate 40 (I-40) at the interchange and Transwestern Pump Station Road, which intersects with Brannigan Park Road a couple of miles west of Bellemont.

The name of Transwestern Road is being changed to Hughes Avenue to help improve
emergency response times and to clarify the road’s name for motorists and residents who might need to report an emergency or accident. Hughes Avenue is the road that already provides access to Camp Navajo on the south side of I-40, so it is logical to extend this road’s name north across I-40 to where it intersects with Brannigan Park Road in order to alleviate any confusion.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is in the process of replacing the signs along I-40 and at the Transwestern Road bridge (Exit 185) to reflect the name change. This work is expected to be completed by mid-June. During this time frame, Public Works crews will be replacing its affected street name signs on County roads.

The County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) team will update all affected databases (911, etc.) to reflect the name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue. GIS also will share the updated road name information with FedEx, UPS, USPS, APS, Guardian Medical, Sheriff’s Dispatch and Fire Districts. The name change from Transwestern Road to Hughes Avenue does not affect any physical or mailing addresses.

An area map is available at www.coconino.az.gov/Transwestern2HughesNameChange. If you have any questions about this project, then please email countyroadsinfo@coconino.az.gov.

Northern Arizona drivers should plan for extended closure of Transwestern Road at Bellemont (Exit 185)

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BELLEMONT — The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff to plan for an eight-day FULL closure of Transwestern Road at Bellemont (Exit 185) beginning Friday, October 4, at 6 p.m., while crews work on replacing the bridges.

During this closure, both directions of I-40 will be re-routed onto the ramps alongside I-40 through the construction zone during the following times:

  • From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning late Friday, October 4, through the morning of Monday, October 7
  • From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning late Monday, October 7, through the morning of Thursday, October 10

DETOUR: Bellemont traffic accessing I-40 ramps across the Transwestern Road closure will be detoured to the next exit to re-enter the interstate.

Motorists should follow signed detour routes and plan for travel delays.

Learn more on the project webpage.

I-40 to be closed overnights for Bellemont interchange improvements

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BELLEMONT – As progress continues on the Bellemont traffic interchange along Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff, the Arizona Department of Transportation will close the highway under the bridge overnight on Monday, September 16, and Thursday, September 19.Eastbound I-40 will close under the overpass for the Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange from 7 p.m. to midnight on September 16, and the westbound direction will close from 7 p.m. to midnight on September 19.

Traffic will detour along the off- and on-ramps while the highway is closed. Transwestern Road passing over I-40 will be closed both nights.

The project will improve the bridge deck and pavement and widen on- and off-ramps at the Interstate 40 Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange. An eight-day closure of Transwestern Road will occur later this fall.

During closures, drivers who ordinarily would use the Bellemont/Transwestern Road interchange can use the I-40 interchanges at Parks and A-1 Mountain Boulevard.

Advance notice will be given with the dates of closures.

To learn more about this project, please visit azdot.gov/projects and click on the North Central District.

Northern Arizona drivers should plan for delays during overnight closures of Interstate 40 September 16 and 19

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BELLEMONT – The Arizona Department of Transportation urges northern Arizona drivers on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff to prepare for delays while crews fully close Interstate 40 and begin work to replace the bridges at Exit 185 near the community of Bellemont.

The work will require the following overnight closures next week:

  • Eastbound I-40 will close at Bellemont (Exit 185) from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday, September 16.
  • Westbound I-40 will close at Bellemont (Exit 185) from 7 p.m. to midnight Thursday, September 19.
  • During these interstate closures, Transwestern Road passing over I-40 will also be closed.

DETOUR: I-40 traffic will be re-routed onto the ramps alongside I-40 through the construction zone.

Plan for lane restrictions on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff September 7-8

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BELLEMONT – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers who use Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff to plan for eastbound lane closures and restrictions this weekend and to allow extra travel time.

Drivers should plan for travel delays while eastbound I-40 is narrowed to one lane at Bellemont (Exit 185) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8.

The restrictions are necessary so crews can continue work to replace the bridges on I-40, approximately 13 miles west of Flagstaff. The project is scheduled for completion this fall.

More project information is available here.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Lightning Caused Wildfire on Sitgreaves Mountain Being Monitored

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WILLIAMS – A recent lightning strike on the upper third of the northeast slope of Sitgreaves Mountain is showing a plume of smoke and is visible from the communities of Spring Valley, Bellemont, and Parks. The “Rock Fire” is just over half an acre in size and is burning within the Eagle Rock Fire burn scar of 2010. The fire is located in steep terrain and has been receiving intermittent moisture since it was discovered on Sunday September 1.

Due to its location, Kaibab National Forest Managers have decided to avoid exposing firefighters to the difficult topography and high volume of snags in the area. This incident will be monitored from road systems around the base of the mountain and periodically by aircraft. There is no danger or threat to private property or residences. Firefighters will be on scene daily to observe behavior and plan for future actions as the fire moves naturally on the terrain.

Weather forecasts are predicting more isolated thunderstorms over the area for the week ahead which may influence fire behavior and visibility.

Additional information about the Rock fire will become available as the situation develops.

Information about other fires and the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

· InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
· Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Bellemont Area Plan public hearing schedule announced

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FLAGSTAFF – A public hearing for the draft of the updated Bellemont Area Plan is scheduled with the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission. The public is invited to attend.

The Bellemont Area Plan is a land use planning document that will guide land use and development in Bellemont for the next 20 years. Over the past 24 months, a committee of Bellemont residents, property owners and business owners have worked to develop the draft plan. The public hearings will be an opportunity for the community to hear the details of the updated plan containing the vision for Bellemont’s future. People can learn about how the updated plan addresses goals and policies for land use, transportation, community services and other issues identified during the process. The public hearings provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the draft plan and its contents.

The Planning and Zoning Commission held its first hearing on June 26 and continued the item to August 28, 2019. The Board of Supervisors hearing will be scheduled after the Commission makes a recommendation.

For questions and to view the draft plan, visit the Planning and Zoning webpage at http://www.coconino.az.gov/1948/Long-Range-Planning.

Bellemont Area Plan Open House

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FLAGSTAFF – The public is invited to attend an Open House to review the draft Bellemont Area Plan. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., Thursday, January 31 at the Robinson Readiness Center Drill Floor, Camp Navajo, Bellemont, Arizona.

The Bellemont Area Plan is a land use planning document that will guide land use and development in Bellemont for the next 20 years. The Open House will be an opportunity for the community to review and provide comments on the draft plan containing the vision for Bellemont’s future. People can learn about how the draft plan addresses goals and policies for land use, transportation, community services and other issues identified during the process.

WHAT: Bellemont Area Plan Open House
WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, January 31, 2019
WHERE: Robinson Readiness Center Drill Floor (Building K2100), Camp Navajo, Bellemont, Ariz.
WHO: The public is invited.

See http://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/26111/ for the draft Area Plan.