Coalition works to improve Coppermine Road

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Myriad groups have formed a partnership to address the deplorable conditions along sections of Coppermine Road (Navajo Route 20) and are moving swiftly to start working on improvements.

Coppermine Road is the chapter's main thoroughfare and runs from Page, Ariz., south to Gap. The pavement ends about 10 miles south of Page and the rest of the road is unpaved.

The plan is to do some grading and focus on the three worst sections along the 28-mile stretch near the Coppermine Chapter House, said Coppermine Chapter President Floyd Stevens during an Oct. 15 meeting at the Tsinaabaas Habitiin (Wagon Trail) School in Gap.

The BIA Road Maintenance Program is not looking to put gravel along the entire stretch of road, said Randy Laughter, BIA Road Maintenance Department spokesman.

"We're mainly tuned into three areas," he said.

Council Delegate Evelyn Acothley (Bodaway-Gap/Cameron/Coppermine) said the worst section is a four-mile stretch between First and Second Windmill, located about 12 miles south of the chapter house.

"We started working out there (Oct. 12)," said Juan Williams of the Coconino County Department of Transportation. "We sort of did what we could, but there's no water."

Coppermine officials have identified several possible sources of water, Stevens said.

"We've committed three different sources of water," he added.

However, one of those sources - the chapter house water station - is actually under the jurisdiction of Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and, because the water is treated for domestic use, NTUA will not approve its use for road construction, Stevens said.

Representatives from the city of Page had suggested a week earlier that it might be able to provide some water, Stevens said.

However, a water source for the roadwork remains uncertain.

"We got one truck load (from the chapter house water station) when we were told to stop, so we left," Laughter said.

The worst sections of road will be covered with dressed with a layer of recycled asphalt. The asphalt is left over from resurfacing done recently on U.S. 89, Stevens said.

As if problems with finding material for asphalt and water weren't enough, there are regulations and more regulations to follow.

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"The problem we're experiencing is getting all the permits," Stevens said.

The group has to be careful to how it describes the roadwork, Laughter said.

Calling the project an "improvement" could become a problem, he said.

"BIA has a policy where 'improvement' is not considered maintenance," Laughter explained. "Improvement falls under construction."

Tsinaabaas Habitiin Principal Marilyn Reed said parents on Navajo Route 21 are also concerned about the condition of that road, especially since a school bus got stuck on it on Oct. 13.

Stevens said that's another issue that needs to be considered.

"Residents want about seven miles paved," he explained.

Both roads are already included in the BIA's road inventory, so there are no archaeological issues of concern, said Jack Utter, a hydrologist with the Navajo Nation's Water Resources Department.

The Navajo Nation's Department of Transportation will assign a minimum of four workers to this project, said NDOT's Ray Barney, the program manager for road maintenance.

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