NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION • PO Box 4620, Window Rock, AZ, 86515

Mihio ManusSR. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERmmanus@navajodot.org(505) 371-8356

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 10, 2019

NDOT PARTNERS WITH COCONINO COUNTY FOR N21 RECONDITIONING PROJECT IN KAIBETO

KAIBETO, Ariz - The Navajo Division of Transportation in partnership with Coconino County Public Works is address-ing the subgrade of Navajo Route 21 for a roadway recon-ditioning project currently underway in Kaibeto Chapter.

The project will recondition two locations of N21 at both the east and west ends. Improvements will be made to subgrade and drainage. When the subgrade preparation is completed, millings and soil stabilizer will be applied at both locations.

The total length of the project is approximately one mile. Arrow Indian Contractors are performing construction for the project.

NDOT Executive Director Garret Silversmith said phase one of the project started on July 16th.

“The project is split into two locations. It starts at N21 in Kaibeto and ends 1.68 miles west,” Silversmith said. “The first location has been graded and is ready for millings. The second location, which is a longer stretch, is currently

being prepped to grade.”

NDOT project manager Priscilla Lee said that locating resources in close proximity to the area was a challenge. Through coordination with the chapter and County, Lee said she was able to access water and have millings trans-ported to the site. Millings, which are ground up asphalt, will be transported to the project site by the County and added during the soil stabilization process.

The partnership between Coconino County and the Navajo Nation stems from Proposition 403, the Coconino County Road Maintenance Sales Tax Ballot Measure, which was approved in 2014. The proposition allows for certain Coun-ty road maintenance projects to be funded through a levy of revenues raised by a dedicated road maintenance sales tax.

Through Prop. 403, the County has established the “Navajo Nation Capital Projects Matching Fund.” This matching fund contributes $200,000 dollars per year, for the 20-year

Garret SilversmithNDOT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORgsilversmith@navajodot.org(505) 371-8300

Crews address subgrade preparation at N21 in Kaibeto Chapter.

NAVAJO DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION • PO Box 4620, Window Rock, AZ, 86515

life of the Prop. 403 sales tax, to important small-scale road projects on the Navajo Nation. These projects funds are to be matched equally by the Navajo Nation.

Additionally, the Arizona State Legislature contributed $110,000 dollars of general funds to the project.

In March 2018, the Navajo Nation entered into an intergov-ernmental agreement with Coconino County to collabora-tively use these funds to address repair and improvement of existing school bus routes on the Navajo Nation that are maintained by the County.

According to Kaibeto Chapter President Franklin Fowler, the coordination between agencies benefits school children and local residents.

“Everyone involved is doing a great job in working togeth-er,” Fowler said. “The project will address muddy areas and sandpits that exist on the road, which will help school busses and local traffic.”

Coconino County Deputy County Manager and Director of Public Works, Lucinda Andreani said the County is excited to launch this important, jointly funded road improvement project.

“This project compliments the road maintenance work done daily by the County’s Road Maintenance Team who are dedicated to maintaining over 280 miles of school bus routes on the Navajo Nation,” Andreani said.

Silversmith said the partnership between agencies is critical to improving these particular bus and emergency response routes.

“The capital match aspect of this project strengthens the partnership between agencies for the betterment of Navajo Nation and Coconino County roadways,” Silversmith said. “More importantly, this partnership benefits the infrastruc-ture of Kaibeto Chapter.”

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After completing subgrade preparation, crews will apply soil stabilizer and millings to N21.