As you approach the end of the scenic portion of the Apache Trail, you come to the Roosevelt Dam. The dam is the reason the road was built in the first place, serving as a supply route for construction supplies.
The Roosevelt Lake Bridge is just above the dam, and carries Arizona route 188 across the water. Before the bridge was completed, traffic had to drive across the top of the dam. You’re not allowed to do that anymore.
Here are a few fun facts about the Roosevelt Dam: the first stone was laid in 1906, and was completed in 1911, when Theodore Roosevelt himself dedicated it. The original dam was 280 feet high. In the early 1990’s engineers designed a way to raise the dam 77 feet, and in the process, increased water storage by 20%.
Take a right on Rte. 188, and head south toward Globe.
Note: This trip was first published in 2005.
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