Tonto National Forest to begin Tonto Creek Bridge replacement in mid-March
Work will improve safety, expand parking, and maintain limited access along NFSR 289
Contact Information: Payson Ranger District (928) 474-7900
(PHOENIX, March 3, 2026) — The Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the Tonto National Forest, will begin construction on a new two-lane Tonto Creek Bridge on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 289, located three-quarters of a mile north of State Route 260. The project also includes expanding the Horton Springs Parking Lot and improving safety and access for pedestrians, drivers, and visitors to nearby homes, recreation sites, trailheads, and fish hatchery.
During construction, the existing single-lane bridge will remain open with temporary traffic controls. Traffic will move without delay from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the bridge may operate with alternating one-way traffic, with delays limited to no more than 30 minutes. We will notify the public via Facebook if we need additional closure times for installations.
For public safety, Upper Tonto Creek and Lower Tonto Creek Campgrounds and the Horton Creek Trailhead parking area will be closed during construction. Derrick Trailhead will remain open, and an alternate route to Horton Creek Trail will be available from Derrick Trail.
The Forest estimates construction to begin in mid-March 2026, and to complete the project by October 31, 2026.
For questions, please contact the Payson Ranger District in Payson, AZ, (928) 474-7900, for more information.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
