Historic Ribbon Cutting Dedicates Routes 481 and 7719 in Littlewater Chapter on Navajo Nation

Officals from Littlewater Chapter, the Navajo Nation executive branch and legislative branch, and NDOT cut the ribbon on N481 and N7119.

Published June 15, 2019

LITTLEWATER, N.M. — On Jun. 13, the Navajo Division of Transportation (NDOT) joined officials from the Littlewater Chapter and the Navajo Nation legislative and executive branches in celebrating the ribbon cutting for Navajo Routes 481 and 7119.

The $4.7 million-dollar project improved over three miles of grade, drainage and paving for both routes. The ceremony also celebrated the first large-scale highway construction project that NDOT has completed using in-house work crews.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez commended NDOT for completing this large-scale road improvement project.

“Now, the community members and the schools of Littlewater and the surrounding communities will have a safe and accessible highway,” President Nez said. “The Nez-Lizer Administration will continue to work closely with NDOT to address road improvements.”

NDOT executive director, Garret Silversmith said paving N481 and N7119 has been a community priority for years.

“We’ve heard road improvement concerns from community members and today we’re at the point of substantial completion,” Silversmith said. “This road that we’re standing on is a great representation of what we can do as a nation.”

Honorable Daniel E. Tso (Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Counselor, Littlewater, Ojo Encino, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake) said paving the routes was a culminated effort of all involved. Tso also nodded to past and present chapter leaders for maintaining progress on the project.

“We’re thankful that our leadership had the voice and unity to make this possible,” Tso said.

Former Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and said paving N481 and N7119 is critical to developing Littlewater Chapter.

Tsosie reminisced about the beginning of the project when there were three chapters on the Navajo Nation that didn’t have access roads: Littlewater, Coppermine and Black Mesa.

“We told the Resource committee that it was unfair to these chapters,” Tsosie said. “They want economic development and community development but it wasn’t happening because there wasn’t a paved road.”

The paved roads represent the struggles that community members endured to bring positive change to their chapter, he said.

“That’s what this road represents. This road will be blessed with pollen because we want it to be a safe road,” Tsosie said. “Please take care of it and don’t trash it with aluminum cans and litter.”

Littlewater Chapter president Thomas Barbone and chapter vice president Paul D. Pablo expressed gratitude to everyone involved in paving the roads.

NDOT acknowledges the Begaye-Nez Administration, the Nez-Lizer Administration and both the 23^rd and 24^th Navajo Nation Council for their continued support of the project.

NDOT also thanks the Littlewater Chapter, NDOT staff, Wilson and Company, Wood contractor, CB Emulsions, PMI, BIA DOT Eastern Agency, Zonnie Construction and Horizontal Environmental.