PHOENIX — The day after Thanksgiving in 2019. Three children – Colby Rawlings, Willa Rawlings and their cousin Austin Rawlings died when the raging waters of the Tonto Creek swept over the family’s flatbed truck.
Since the tragedy, Gov. Doug Ducey and Sens. Martha McSally and Kyrsten Synema have lobbied for federal funding to build a bridge.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Gila County has been granted $21 million to build the bridge.
“I’m all for it. Whatever it takes to build a bridge,” said George Ewing.
Since 1970, George Ewing has been transporting school kids and whoever needs it across the creek in his five-ton military-style truck. He says a bridge would make things safer for folks when the creek is flooded.
“Safety of getting school kids across. Safety of getting retired people across. The river could come up and isolate you for a week or two weeks,” said Ewing.
While many residents have been waiting years for it, others say it’s not necessary.
“They’re going to ruin a beautiful area at Tonto Creek if they put a bridge over it,” said Joe Osuch.
His towing company Arizona 4x4 Recovery has been pulling stranded drivers out of the rugged terrain of the Tonto Basin area for years.
Osuch knows what mother nature can unleash – his crew rescued a family from the nearby Sycamore Creek just four months after the tragedy at Tonto Creek. He says people have been crossing the Tonto Creek for years just fine.
“Most people use some common sense and if the water is flowing too hard then go in the other way,” said Osuch.
The other way could mean an extra 20 to 60-minute trip. Osuch says most of the time the creek is crossable.
When the bridge will be built is unclear but there are already designs drawn up.
