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School House Road in Cave Creek suffered the loss of one lane of asphalt in Galloway Wash during the July 31 storm. The cost to repair the crossing, along with similar damage to Spur Cross Road, is estimated at $56,000.
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Washed out roads prompts talk of Cave Creek bridges
Storm wreaks havoc across NE Valley
by Brian DiTullio

CAVE CREEK – In the wake of severe flooding July 31 that washed out portions of two Cave Creek roadways, town officials are considering construction of up to five bridges.

Town Engineer Wayne Anderson said one section of School House Road was washed away just north of the Desert Foothills Library and Spur Cross Road also was washed out in places.

“Both roads are now open and passable,” said Anderson on Friday, estimating it will cost about $56,000 to make repairs. The issue already is scheduled for the Aug. 20 regular meeting of town council.

Mayor Vincent Francia told The Desert Advocate on Aug. 2 the town has two tasks to perform to deal with the present situation.

“First, we have to do something to keep those roads passable for the rest of this monsoon season. Second, we have to make sure those areas are safer for drivers in the future.”

Addressing some of those safety concerns could mean building a number of bridges, an idea Francia said often is rejected by Cave Creek residents in order to keep the “frontier” look and experience of the town intact.

“You can only take the experience so far,” the mayor commented. “At some point you have to address safety.”

According to Anderson, a Drainage Master Plan is scheduled for presentation to town council at the end of September. Pulling some preliminary findings from the draft report, he related it includes a proposal to build five bridges north of the town core, including one on School House Road at Galloway Wash.

“Galloway Wash is our highest priority,” said Anderson. “We need to get that taken care of.”

The other four bridge locations would be over Rowe Wash and Ocotillo Wash on School House Road and across the Galloway and Rowe washes on Spur Cross Road. No cost estimates for these proposed projects are prepared at this time, Anderson said.

Former Vice Mayor Ralph Mozilo found himself stranded because of the July 31 storm, telling the Advocate it was the first time in the 12 years at his current home he has seen School House Road washed out like during this latest big storm.

Carefree didn’t escape the July 31 storm unscathed, although the damage did not impact motorists like it did in Cave Creek. The town suffered some minor damage and downed trees in its garden area adjacent to the Sundial.

In addition, a retaining wall damaged during a storm the week of July 23 at the corner of Carefree Drive and Happy Hollow Drive suffered further damage in the most recent storm.

The heavy monsoon July 31 also inundated portions of North Scottsdale and the Desert Hills/New River areas. Desert Sun Elementary School on Cave Creek Unified School District’s south campus was heavily damaged, forcing the relocation of all classes to the former Black Mountain Elementary school campus south of Carefree Highway at 60th Street and Dove Valley Road.

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