Residents of Cibola, Arizona, Palo Verde, California, and neighboring communities have lost both the Oxbow Bridge and the Hart Mine Road Bridge, leaving families, farms, businesses, emergency responders, and visitors without critical transportation access between Arizona and California.

These bridges were essential infrastructure—not recreational crossings. Their loss has increased emergency response times, reduced evacuation options during wildfires and floods, disrupted agriculture and commerce, limited access to homes and public lands, and hurt the local economy.

We are calling on federal, state, county, and local officials to immediately prioritize rebuilding both bridges, secure emergency funding, establish a public construction timeline, provide temporary access solutions, and keep the community informed throughout the process.

Rural communities deserve safe, reliable transportation and emergency access just as much as larger cities. It is time to restore these vital crossings.

We, the undersigned residents, property owners, farmers, ranchers, business owners, outdoor recreation users, and supporters, respectfully request immediate action to restore transportation access between Arizona and California by rebuilding both the Oxbow Bridge and the Hart Mine Road Bridge near Cibola, Arizona.

The loss of these bridges has isolated our community and eliminated vital transportation routes that connected families, farms, emergency responders, businesses, wildlife refuge visitors, and neighboring communities.

These were not simply recreational bridges. They were critical public infrastructure.

Their loss has resulted in:

Delayed emergency response by fire, ambulance, and law enforcement.
Fewer evacuation routes during wildfires and flooding.
Increased travel time and fuel costs.
Economic losses for local businesses.
Hardships for farmers and ranchers transporting equipment, livestock, and crops.
Reduced access to homes and private property.
Limited access to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding public lands.
Loss of tourism from hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, campers, boaters, and other outdoor recreation visitors.
Transportation challenges for school travel, deliveries, and medical appointments.

We respectfully request that responsible agencies:

Declare replacement of both bridges an emergency infrastructure priority.
Commit to rebuilding both the Oxbow Bridge and the Hart Mine Road Bridge.
Secure state and federal funding without unnecessary delay.
Publish a construction timeline with regular public progress updates.
Develop temporary transportation or emergency access until permanent bridges are completed.
Hold public meetings in Cibola so residents receive updates and can ask questions.
Review the impacts of recent wildfire damage on critical public infrastructure and develop strategies to reduce future risks.
Rebuilding these bridges is about far more than replacing structures. It is about protecting public safety, supporting agriculture, strengthening local businesses, restoring access to public lands, improving emergency preparedness, and ensuring rural communities receive the same attention and investment as larger population centers.

If you believe rural communities deserve safe transportation, reliable emergency access, and dependable infrastructure, please sign this petition and share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and elected officials.

Together we can help restore these vital connections between Arizona and California.

Your support is appreciated and valued.