WINDOW ROCK – The Navajo Division of Transportation (NDOT) is making a big shift in how it takes care of roads—by moving decision-making and resources closer to the communities that actually use them.
NDOT is advancing its decentralization initiative, which is aimed at strengthening road maintenance operations across the Navajo Nation and has established seven separate road districts.
The goal is simple: give local NDOT teams more control so they can respond faster, work more efficiently, and better meet the needs of their own communities.
The initiative also doubling the minimum mileage requirement for chapter road grading from 15 miles to 30 miles, significantly expanding maintenance coverage for rural communities. To support these efforts, NDOT is expanding its grader fleet and reclassifying laborers as Equipment Operators, formally recognizing their essential role in maintaining critical transportation infrastructure and ensuring community connectivity.
This new, more localized approach is expected to be fully in place in the coming month – April 2026.
President Buu Nygren emphasized the importance of this work, stating that his administration is taking proactive steps to improve infrastructure in ways that support economic growth, noting that “this initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening roads and infrastructure as a key part of building a stronger Navajo Nation economy.”
