Catalina Highway to reopen Saturday, Pima County DOT says

Visitors can expect reduced speed limits on the popular roadway, the county said.

AUTHORITIES CLOSED ACCESS TOTHE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FIRESTARTED IN EARLY JUNE.

THISSATURDAY IT WILL OPEN BACK UPTO ANYONE LOOKING TO HEAD UPTO THE MOUNTAINS.

THE DECISIONFELL TO PIMA COUNTY'S SHERIFFAND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTSALONG WITH THE U- S FORESTSERVICE.

IN ORDER TO OPEN ITUP AGAIN OFFICIALS SAY CREWSHAD TO REPLACE 250 GUARDRAILSDAMAGED BY THE FIRE.

THEY SAYCREWS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ONTHE ROADS REPAIRING 17-HUNDREDFEET OF GUARDRAILS.

REOPENINGTHE CATALINA HIGHWAY WILLALLOW ACCESS TO SUMMERHAVENAND SKI VALLEY BUT NATIONALFOREST AREAS, OFFICIALS SAID,WILL REMAIN CLOSED.

THIS ISWELCOME NEWS FOR BUSINESSES ONTHE MOUNTAIN, AS PIMA COUNTYSUPERVISOR STEVE CHRISTY NOTEDIN A STATEMENT, SAYING, INPART: THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ASTRUGGLE FOR ALL LOCALBUSINESSES AND THOSE ON THEMOUNTAIN HAVE ENDURED TWO SHUTDOWNS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMICAND THE FIRE.

I AM SURE WE ALLLOOK FORWARD TO ESCAPING THEHEAT AND ENJOYING SOMESUMMERHAVEN HOSPITALITY.

IT'SIMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEREWILL BE SPEED REDUCTIONS ANDLANE RESTRICTIONS ALONG THEHIGHWAY.

REPORTING LIVE,ROGELIO MARES, KGUN 9 ON YOURSIDE.THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGCONTINUES -- AND THAT MAY