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FR 141 construction road closure near Reserve
The process to rehabilitate 18 miles of Forest Road 141 (FR 141, Reserve-Beaverhead Road) - the primary access road from Reserve to the forest - begins the week of August 24, 2026.
As of Sept. 23, 2026, there is a closure order in place along FSR 141 near Reserve. This closure will be in effect intermittently, mid-week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) as needed by the contractor, and as needed for unforeseen events where closure of the road is necessary to protect public health and safety.
At least one lane of traffic will remain open on weekends during construction, but single-lane road closures will likely result in short-term delays for travelers for the duration of the project. Full road closures may occur on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with possible 24-hour closures on Tuesdays or Wednesdays as needed for construction operations. Signage will be present along the roadway to inform travelers of closures.
The project will continue through early to mid-November when winter weather conditions set in. Weather permitting, work will resume in spring of 2027 with an anticipated July 2027 completion date.
View the full news release: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/newsroom/releases/forest-road-141-rehabilitation-and-maintenance-has-begun
Alert Start Date: August 24, 2026
Alert End Date: July 31, 2027
Order Number: 03-06-06-26-002
Contact Information
Contact Name: Reserve Ranger District
Contact Number: (575) 533-6232
Associated Documents
Forest Order
PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a)(b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and roads in the Reserve Ranger District, Gila National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area/Roads”):
- Public health or safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
- Being on the road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
- Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.
DESCRIBED AREA/ROADS
The Described Area consists of all National Forest System lands identified as Staging Areas 1 through 5 on Exhibit A, located as follows:
- Staging Area #1: 33º37’20.75” N, 108º47’22.93” W; NW ¼ of the SE ¼ within T8S, R19W, S10;
- Staging Area #2: 33º36’39.88” N, 108º45’08.15” W; SE and NE ¼ of the NE ¼ within T8S, R19 W, S13;
- Staging Area #3: 33º36’25.29” N, 108º45’04.67” W; NW and NE ¼ of the SE ¼ within T8S, R19W, S13;
- Staging Area #4: 33º35’00.27” N, 108º44’15.38” W; NW and NE ¼ of the NE ¼ within T8S, R18 W, S30; and,
- Staging Area #5: 33º33’57.37” N, 108º43’09.74” W; SW and SE ¼ of the NE ¼ within T8S, R18W, S32.
The Described Road consists of the following National Forest System Roads (NFSR):
- NFSR 141 from its northern starting point located at the national forest boundary at it’s junction with New Mexico State Highway 435 within T18S, R19W, S3, and proceeding 18.81 miles south/southeast to the junction with NFSR 153 within T9S, R18W, S11; and, NFSRs 4041W, 4041X, and 4041Y, which all begin within T8S, R19W, S13.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety due to road construction operations associated with the rehabilitation and maintenance of NFSR 141 on the Reserve Ranger District, Gila National Forest. This closure will be in effect intermittently, mid-week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) as needed by the contractor, and as needed for unforeseen events where closure of the road is necessary to protect public health and safety.
IMPLEMENTATION
- This Order shall be in effect from September 23, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. through
August 2, 2027 at 6:00 p.m., unless rescinded. - A map identifying the Described Area/Roads is attached and made part of this
Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices. - Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are
defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II,
Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the
Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined
by their plain language definitions. - A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by
a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by
imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C.
§§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. - Contact the Reserve Ranger District in Reserve, NM, (575) 533-6231, and the Gila
National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Silver City, NM, (575) 388-8201, for more
information about this Order. - This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in
and on the same Described Area and Roads.
Signed and issued on 9/9/2026.
Bret S. Ruff
Forest Supervisor
Gila National Forest
EXHIBIT A: Map of NFSR 141 Area and Road Closure (available as PDF at link above)