While the Arizona Department of Transportation plans to shut down State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon during stormy weather this winter because of financial difficulties, many Sedona residents want the state to look at other cost-saving alternatives.

Sedona Chamber of Commerce President  and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff said she hopes ADOT sits down with city officials to discuss the importance of this highway remaining open and plowed during the winter months.

“We will do whatever we can to help the state and ADOT come up with alternatives,” she said. “We definitely will do what we can do.”

Wesselhoff said one option is closing Sunset Point rest area and using those saved funds to plow State Route 89A.

The chamber of commerce president said another option is for the cities of Flagstaff and Sedona to split the costs for ADOT to plow the highway. She said what could also work is for the state, Coconino County and cities of Sedona and Flagstaff to each pick up 25 percent of the cost.

She said ADOT likely has an idea on the impacts it would have on the two cities and its residents but are in a quandary over what to do.

“They just don’t have the money,” she said.

What Wesselhoff opposes is businesses paying part or all of the cost to keep the road plowed, mentioning many of them are already struggling financially.

“I would like to think that is a county or city service,” she said.

Sedona Assistant City Manager Alison Zelms said staff spoke Monday, Nov. 16, with John Halikowski, director of ADOT, to see what Sedona can do or possibly join in a partnership with Flagstaff and/or Coconino County to change this procedure.

Sedona officials will now get in touch with Coconino County about forming a partnership. She also said other options were discussed with Halikowski.

She said the city was contacted by Wesselhoff about discussing options with ADOT. City officials were told plowing State Route 89A would not be a priority and Interstate 17 must be stabilized before diverting workers and trucks to other locations.

City officials met with ADOT Engineer John Harper in a teleconference call, and he told them this is what ADOT plans, Zelms said.

Change in the maintenance of state routes will begin Monday, Dec. 14, and will be closed based on predicted weather. There are gates at MCS Stables and Manresa Retreat. Typically the Department of Public Safety would clear the closed area four hours prior to predicted storms.

Depending on availability, a truck may be placed on 89A for clearing during the storm, but clearing of snow would typically start after I-17 is stabilized. Public notification of closures would be on a storm by storm basis using press releases and the message boards at each end of Oak Creek Canyon.

“There are probably a lot of options,” Zelms said, and added she wonders about the cost for the cities and counties to ensure the road does not close.

Wesselhoff said businesses will not be the only ones suffering if the road closes occasionally.

“It’s not only going to impact our stores, it will impact commuters from both cities,” Wesselhoff said.

She also wonders how emergency services would get to families living in the Oak Creek Canyon area if the roads were impassable.

What also concerns Wesselhoff is she was informed it was only a possibility the state route would close and before a decision was reached, state officials would meet with city workers.

“We are going to work on it to see if we can avoid [those closures],” she said.

Michael Maresh can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail mmaresh@larsonnewspapers.com