Sept. 12 | The Navajo Post

Photo by: Eric Cuthbert

PINEDALE –Most Navajo reservation roads are not paved, but for a community this will be a huge step towards rebuilding the Nations infrastructure.

According to the speakers office press release, for nearly fifty years of strong calls for improvements to an 11-mile stretch of dirt road that winds through the community of Pinedale, residents of this area will soon be fully enjoying what most take for granted – a paved road.

the Navajo Department of Transportation, McKinley County, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the local chapter of Pinedale, played a major role in the process towards the pavement of the six-mile portion of Navajo Road 7054.

Its will be completed by the end of the month, said Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie.

“The people here are relieved to finally see improvements being done to this road,” said Delegate Yazzie (Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Smith Lake, Thoreau, Pinedale).

“After it rained or during the winter when snow fell, the clay soil on this road made traveling very difficult for people traveling through,” explained Delegate Yazzie. “With a portion of this road finally paved, people can get to where they need to go without difficulties, and they are very happy about that.”

A lot of Navajo people rely heavily on their vehicles to travel from one point to another, residents of this area are ecstatic to know that there will be less wear and tear on their vehicles, in addition to the minimization of fuel consumption.

Since being elected as the Navajo Nation Council representative for Pinedale and five other Navajo communities, Delegate Edmund Yazzie said he had made transportation improvements for this area one of his priorities.

“I was very glad to see NDOT, McKinley County, BIA, and Pinedale Chapter working together to get this project completed for our people out here. The collaboration is indicative of the strong teamwork efforts that were at play throughout the project,” said Delegate Yazzie.

Delegate Yazzie assures that the collaborative efforts will continue as NDOT is currently seeking additional funding to get the remaining five miles of Navajo Road 7054 paved.

“We see it as a vision, that the remaining part will be done in another year and a half or so. We’ve come a long way,” Delegate Yazzie said.

This is just another example of what excellent teamwork and communication can achieve. In the end, it’s the people who benefit.”