HISTORIC RIBBON CUTTING DEDICATES ROUTES 481 AND 7119 … · 2019. 6. 14. · tive branches in...
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NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION • PO Box 4620, Window Rock, AZ, 86515 Mihio Manus SR. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER [email protected] (505) 371-8356 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2019 HISTORIC RIBBON CUTTING DEDICATES ROUTES 481 AND 7119 IN LITTLEWATER CHAPTER LITTLEWATER, N.M.-On Jun. 13, the Navajo Division of Transportation (NDOT) joined officials from the Littlewa- ter Chapter and the Navajo Nation legislative and execu- tive branches in celebrating the ribbon cutting for Navajo Routes 481 and 7119. The $4.7 million-dollar project improved over three miles of grade, drainage and paving for both routes. The ceremo- ny also celebrated the first large-scale highway construction project that NDOT has completed using in-house work crews. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez commended NDOT for completing this large-scale road improvement project. “Now, the community members and the schools of Lit- tlewater and the surrounding communities will have a safe and accessible highway,” President Nez said. “The Nez-Lizer Administration will continue to work closely with NDOT to address road improvements.” NDOT executive director, Garret Silversmith said paving N481 and N7119 has been a community priority for years. “We’ve heard road improvement concerns from community members and today we’re at the point of substantial com- pletion,” Silversmith said. “This road that we’re standing on is a great representation of what we can do as a nation.” Honorable Daniel E. Tso (Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) said paving the routes was a culminated effort of all involved. Tso also nodded to past and present chapter leaders for maintaining progress on the project. “We’re thankful that our leadership had the voice and unity to make this possible,” Tso said. Former Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and said paving N481 and N7119 is critical to developing Littlewater Chapter. Garret Silversmith NDOT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR [email protected] (505) 371-8300 Officals from Littlewater Chapter, the Navajo Nation executive branch and legislative branch, and NDOT cut the ribbon on N481 and N7119.
Transcript of HISTORIC RIBBON CUTTING DEDICATES ROUTES 481 AND 7119 … · 2019. 6. 14. · tive branches in...
NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION • PO Box 4620, Window Rock, AZ, 86515
Mihio ManusSR. PUBLIC INFORMATION [email protected](505) 371-8356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 14, 2019
HISTORIC RIBBON CUTTING DEDICATES ROUTES 481 AND 7119 IN LITTLEWATER CHAPTER
LITTLEWATER, N.M.-On Jun. 13, the Navajo Division of Transportation (NDOT) joined officials from the Littlewa-ter Chapter and the Navajo Nation legislative and execu-tive branches in celebrating the ribbon cutting for Navajo Routes 481 and 7119.
The $4.7 million-dollar project improved over three miles of grade, drainage and paving for both routes. The ceremo-ny also celebrated the first large-scale highway construction project that NDOT has completed using in-house work crews.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez commended NDOT for completing this large-scale road improvement project.
“Now, the community members and the schools of Lit-tlewater and the surrounding communities will have a safe and accessible highway,” President Nez said. “The Nez-Lizer Administration will continue to work closely with NDOT to address road improvements.”
NDOT executive director, Garret Silversmith said paving N481 and N7119 has been a community priority for years.
“We’ve heard road improvement concerns from community members and today we’re at the point of substantial com-pletion,” Silversmith said. “This road that we’re standing on is a great representation of what we can do as a nation.”
Honorable Daniel E. Tso (Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) said paving the routes was a culminated effort of all involved. Tso also nodded to past and present chapter leaders for maintaining progress on the project.
“We’re thankful that our leadership had the voice and unity to make this possible,” Tso said.
Former Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and said paving N481 and N7119 is critical to developing Littlewater Chapter.
Garret SilversmithNDOT EXECUTIVE [email protected](505) 371-8300
Officals from Littlewater Chapter, the Navajo Nation executive branch and legislative branch, and NDOT cut the ribbon on N481 and N7119.
NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION • PO Box 4620, Window Rock, AZ, 86515
Tsosie reminisced about the beginning of the project when there were three chapters on the Navajo Nation that didn’t have access roads: Littlewater, Coppermine and Black Mesa.
“We told the Resource committee that it was unfair to these chapters,” Tsosie said. “They want economic development and community development but it wasn’t happening because there wasn’t a paved road.”
The paved roads represent the struggles that community mem-bers endured to bring positive change to their chapter, he said.
“That’s what this road represents. This road will be blessed with pollen because we want it to be a safe road,” Tsosie said. “Please take care of it and don’t trash it with aluminum cans and litter.”
Littlewater Chapter president Thomas Barbone and chapter vice president Paul D. Pablo expressed gratitude to everyone involved in paving the roads.
NDOT acknowledges the Begaye-Nez Administration, the Nez-Lizer Administration and both the 23rd and 24th Navajo Nation Council for their continued support of the project.
NDOT also thanks the Littlewater Chapter, NDOT staff, Wil-son and Company, Wood contractor, CB Emulsions, PMI, BIA DOT Eastern Agency, Zonnie Construction and Horizontal Environmental.
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A view of the freshly paved N481 looking south.
Littlewater Chapter president Thomas Barbone thanked everyone involved in the paving of N481 and N7119.
Honorable Daniel E. Tso said it took the persistence of chaper leadership to bring the project to completion.
