FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A daylong attempt to resolve adispute over paving the road to the
Grand Canyon Skywalk ended withoutan agreement.Nigel Turner, who owns a tourist ranch along DiamondBar
Road, wants a chance to review the road plans and assurances thatthe project will include elements such
as fencing, cattle guards,underpasses and entrances to his property. Those amenities were agreedupon in
the 2007 settlement of a federal lawsuit he filed over theproject, he said.The federal government
contends that Turnernever was given the right to approve road designs and has improperlybuilt on the
government’s easement.The two sides met Thursday inmediation but left without coming to agreement. The
impasse means afederal judge could hear a request from Turner for a temporaryrestraining order to halt
the road project for at least 30 days. Ahearing date hasn’t been set."Why would I want damage to my
landand that beautiful property instead of sitting down for 30 days andtalking and doing it
correctly?" Turner said Friday in an interview withThe Associated Press.Federal officials declined
to comment.DiamondBar is the primary road tourists take to reach the Grand Canyon Skywalkand Turner’s
ranch, though there are less desirable alternatives.About4.5 miles of the road was paved in 2010. The
remaining 9 miles of dirtand gravel road is being paved. It is being realigned in some areas andwill run
partly adjacent to Turner’s ranch. Construction began earlierthis year.Under the 2007 settlement, the
entire road was to becomplete within four years, or the one-mile stretch on Turner’s propertyno longer
could be used for public access, he said.Bob Taylor, Mohave County’s chief civil deputy attorney, said
it’s unclear whether the road automatically reverted to Turner."Certainprocedural steps must be
taken to abandon a road," he said. "Thedispute can be whether or not the settlement agreement
that was approvedby the board of supervisors is self-executing. Was that a sufficientministerial step to
effect the abandonment at that point without furtherboard action?"Meanwhile, Turner has set up a
checkpoint on theroad, and it’s manned by his staff and hired security guards. Turner ischarging
tourists what he calls an entry fee to his western ranch thatincludes an hourly rodeo show, gun range,
museum and other activities.It costs $20 per adult and $10 per child.Turner said he wouldhave begun
charging the fee more than a year ago had he realized thetime to build the new road under the settlement
had expired."I’mnot changing that, because I believe it’s fair," he said. "My land
hasbeen abused for 13 years. Beside the road, there’s beer bottles, trash,they stop and take pictures of
my ranch, my cowboys, and they don’t pay apenny."The Hualapai Tribe, which owns the Skywalk, said
Turnershouldn’t be taking advantage of tourists who have no intention of goingto his ranch. Tribal Vice
Chairman Philbert Watahomigie said the tribewould work to create a temporary dirt roadway that would
bypass thecheckpoint.The tribe also has called on Mohave County officialsto intervene so that tourists
can freely drive on the current road,which the tribe argues is a public thoroughfare."To continue
toallow a private citizen to use armed guards to stop tourists and charge atoll is unthinkable,"
said tribal spokesman Dave Cieslak.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.