GADI’AHII– Like many roads across the Navajo Nation, New Mexico Navajo Route N571 from Gadi’Ahii and To’ Koi, N.M. needed improvement. Sides of the road were missing while other parts had large potholes.
Finally, communities of Gadi’Ahii and To’ Koi, N.M. will see improvements to two-and-a-half miles of N571. These improvements, costing a total of $169,859.70 from the Tribal Infrastructure Funds, will include chip seal repair, which is heated asphalt liquid that is sprayed onto the current road surface. Following the sprayed asphalt, the road workers will then put a layer of small aggregate stones, the chips, which are then compacted into the asphalt which extend the roads lifespan.
The road improvements consist of patching, chip seal repair and earth slope construction to the roadway. Earth slope construction is building a slope using earth materials that can help withstand natural shifts in the earth.
“I am doing what I can with NDOT to continue fixing as many roads as possible because I understand the need for safe road conditions,” said President Nygren. “These roads are supposed to get us to and from our destinations safely. I am glad we’ve been able to not only do this to the road in Gadi’Ahii, but also N59 in Dennehotso and N5 in Burnham. These roads are truly getting us to a safer future.”
The road is under ownership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, off Interstate Highway 64 showed signs of aging and failed road conditions. President Buu Nygren worked with the Navajo Department of Transportation and CB Emulsion LLC to initiate these road improvements.
NDOT officials pointed out that though there are many BIA roads in the same condition, NDOT does what it can to ensure that roads going through the Nation can be rehabilitated for the safety of the Navajo people.
