Navajo Nation Partnership Stressed as Navajo President Meets with New Mexico Transportation Official

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO– Navajo President Ben Shelly stressed a continuation of state and Navajo Nation partnership during a meeting with New Mexico Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary Alvin Dominguez on Tuesday.

Navajo President Ben Shelly

“The partnership we have with the State of New Mexico in completing the project of US 491 is essential. We need to keep at these partnerships for the benefit of the people,”

President Shelly said during a meeting to receive a construction update of US Highway 491, a major roadway from Interstate 40 to the Four Corners region.

The State of New Mexico recently allocated $13 million for completion of a four-mile portion of the highway. Construction is slated to start along the corridor from milepost 41.8 to 46.0 beginning December 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in May 2014.

“I know funding for infrastructure is becoming more difficult to attain, and costs for construction are rising. I thank New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, Secretary Dominguez, NMDOT, and the State of New Mexico for funding another 4.2 miles of construction to extend the highway to Naschitti,”

President Shelly stated.

Construction on US Highway 491 began in December 2009 and is a continuing project.

“The construction of highway employs Navajo workers. It creates jobs but most of all it is for the safety of the travelers. Extending to a four lane high way rather than two is much safer,”

President Shelly said.

The hour-long meeting took place at the New Mexico Department of Transportation general office.

posted November 29, 2012 8:30 am est