PHOENIX — Paving has begun on the shorter, future interim detour route for motorists affected by the US 89 landslide closure south of Page, but traveling on Navajo Route 20 is not an option until construction is completed later this summer.

Several vehicles have become stuck in the sand along this 44-mile-long tribal route, which is a mostly dirt road that stretches from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee, and there is limited cell phone coverage in the area. Currently, only local Navajo Nation residents are permitted to travel on N20.

After breaking ground on this Arizona Department of Transportation project in late May, crews have been clearing debris and brush off the roadway, grading and installing water lines in preparation for paving work.

Paving N20 will significantly reduce travel time for motorists heading to and from Page and the Lake Powell area. Currently, the primary detour is to take US 160 to State Route 98, which is approximately 45 miles longer than the direct route. The new detour route will shave half the distance and time to get to Page.

When paving is complete, N20 will be temporarily adopted into the state’s highway system and designated Temporary US 89 (US 89T). After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, the newly paved US 89T will be returned to the control of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The $35 million project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures. ADOT has already been awarded $35 million in federal aid, including $2 million in quick release funds to assess the damage and the stability of the mountain slope, and conduct emergency operations.

US 89 has been closed north of Bitter Springs and south of Page since Feb. 20 due to a landslide that buckled pavement on the mountain slope in the Echo Cliffs. There is no timetable for reopening the damaged highway but ADOT is committed to restoring this critical travel route as soon as safely possible.

ADOT has completed its geotechnical field investigation, which is the first phase of the solution. ADOT’s engineers are currently reviewing options for the ultimate repair of US 89, which will be based on the results of the geotechnical work that began shortly after the landslide.

ADOT has launched a range of communication tools, including a Web page dedicated to keeping the public informed about the status of the closure and alternate travel routes, complemented by up-to-date video and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

Motorists with questions can write to [email protected] or call toll-free 855.712.8530.

PHOENIX — After months of planning and negotiation, the Navajo Division of Transportation and Arizona Department of Transportation are ready to break ground on a paving project on Navajo Route 20.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the paving of N20 will take place at 11 a.m. on the Navajo Nation (10 a.m. MST in Arizona) on Sunday, June 9 at Tsinaabaas Habitiin Elementary School in Bodaway-Gap. ADOT Deputy Director of Transportation Jennifer Toth will be one of the designated speakers.

On May 28, ADOT officially began construction on N20.

The $35 million project will pave a 28-mile portion of dirt road, which travels from Bodaway-Gap north through Coppermine and ending in LeChee. N20 stretches a total length of 44 miles and has connected all three Navajo communities for more than 40 years.

The construction project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which funds the repairs of roadways damaged by natural disasters.

ADOT closed a portion of US 89 on Feb. 20 after a landslide occurred and damaged the roadway near Bitter Springs.

Upon completion of paving, N20 will be designated as US 89T and will serve as a temporary detour route for traffic from the closed portion of US 89. After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, the newly paved US 89T will be returned to the control of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

ADOT expects construction on US 89T to be completed in mid-August.

The Navajo Division of Transportation, ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been working together since the closure of US 89 to utilize N20 as a detour route.

“The paving of 28 miles of dirt road for use as an emergency detour route is unprecedented for Indian Country,” said Paulson Chaco, director of the Navajo Division of Transportation. “We have worked closely with ADOT and our other partners to realize this project.”

Immediately after the road closure, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly directed the Navajo Division of Transportation to work with ADOT on the possibility of paving N20 as an alternative detour route.

On Feb. 24, Shelly and Navajo Nation Executive Branch leadership organized a meeting at the Bodaway-Gap Chapter and met with residents affected by the road closure.

The Navajo Division of Transportation assisted ADOT with the expedient processing of a temporary construction easement for construction. The lengthy tribal process typically takes months and even years to complete. ADOT’s easement was processed within weeks through assistance from tribal departments and the BIA.

Currently, motorists are traveling a 115-mile detour, driving east on US 160 to State Route 98 north for access to and from Page. The US 89T detour route will reduce travel time and mileage by half.

PHOENIX — Drivers who make the daily commute to and from Page will soon get good news later this summer as the Arizona Department of Transportation has begun work on upgrading Navajo Route 20, which will eventually serve as a shorter interim detour route for drivers who have impacted by the US 89 landslide closure.

Initial work on the 44-mile-long tribal route started last week including clearing debris and brush from the roadway and grading the mostly dirt road stretching from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee.

Next month crews are expected to begin paving on the future interim detour route, which has been designated Temporary US 89. It will eventually open to all motorists, including commercial truck traffic, later this summer when the project is finished.

Once complete, the N20 detour route (US 89T) will reduce travel time for motorists heading to and from Page and the Lake Powell area. Currently, the primary detour is to take US 160 to State Route 98, which is approximately 115-miles long and 45 miles longer than the direct route. By paving N20, the detour route would be cut nearly in half.

“An important thing for drivers to remember is that while ADOT is working on the N20 project, motorists are advised to stick with the current established detour, which is using US 160 to State Route 98,” said Rob Samour, ADOT senior deputy state engineer of operations. “We are grateful for the support of our many partners, including the Navajo Nation, Federal Highway Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Navajo Division of Transportation who helped get this project off the ground in a very short time since the Feb. 20 landslide.”

The $35 million improvement project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration's emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures. ADOT has already been awarded $35 million in federal aid, including $2 million in quick release funds to assess the damage and the stability of the mountain slope, and conduct emergency operations.

After the reconstruction of US 89 is complete, US 89T will be relinquished to the Navajo Nation. There is no timetable for reopening the highway but ADOT is committed to restoring this important travel route as soon as safely possible.

US 89 has been closed north of Bitter Springs and south of Page since Feb. 20 due to a landslide that buckled pavement on the mountain slope.

ADOT is currently in the final stages of its geotechnical investigation, which is the first phase of the solution. Crews are monitoring the stability of the slope and the ultimate repair of US 89 will be based on the results of the geotechnical work.

ADOT has launched a range of communication tools, including a web page dedicated to keeping the public informed about the status of the closure and alternate travel routes, complemented by up-to-date video and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

PHOENIX — Nearly three months after a devastating landslide cut off direct access on US 89 between Bitter Springs and Page, the Arizona Department of Transportation has been awarded $35 million in federal emergency funds to begin repairing the damaged highway and restore essential traffic in the region.

Following Governor Jan Brewer’s Declaration of Emergency on March 1, ADOT formally requested $35 million in its initial estimate for repairs through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program. The Emergency Relief program reimburses state and local jurisdictions for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that were damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures.

“This federal aid will allow us to repair the damaged US 89 roadway and restore mobility to the region by providing a safe route for drivers after this geological event made this route impassable,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “There is not a quick and easy process to fix the highway because there are a great deal of engineering and geological issues to consider. It is important to figure out what has happened because that will help guide us in what the ultimate repair will be.”

The federal aid will also be used to upgrade Navajo Route 20, which is mostly a dirt road between Bodaway-Gap and LeChee that runs parallel to US 89 and is used by local residents. By paving N20, the road would serve as the interim detour route (US 89T) until repairs are finished on US 89 and would substantially reduce travel time for motorists heading to and from Page. Work is expected to begin later this month.

The current detour established for drivers is using US 160 (Tuba City exit) and State Route 98, which is approximately 115 miles long and 45 miles longer than the direct US 89 route. Drivers also have the option to take US 89A north to Marble Canyon toward Fredonia to reconnect to US 89 in Kanab, Utah.

“I think what the mountain slide brought home is that we can’t take the transportation system for granted,” Halikowski said. “People rely on it a great deal to get from point A to point B, but also for many, many other things. Whether that’s transporting school children, or for emergencies services or for the tourism industry, transportation is one of those networks that we find, once we don’t have it, it’s very difficult to live without it.”

The $35 million in emergency relief funds are in addition to $2 million the Federal Highway Administration provided to ADOT in March to begin assessing the damage and establish access for emergency vehicles.

As a result of an early morning landslide on Feb. 20, US 89 suffered more than 500 feet of damage, including a 150-foot section of pavement that settled four-to-six feet due to the failure of the mountain slope. US 89 remains closed between the US 89A junction near Bitter Springs to the State Route 98 junction south of Page (mileposts 523-546).

ADOT is currently in the final stages of its geotechnical investigation, which is the first phase of the solution. Crews have completed drilling, but are continuing weekly monitoring of the stability of the slope in the Echo Cliffs and the ultimate repair of US 89 will be based on the results of the geotechnical work. The final geotechnical report will be completed by the end of May.

ADOT has launched a range of communication tools, including a web page dedicated to keeping the public informed about the status of the closure and alternate travel routes, complemented by up-to-date video and photos of the roadway damage on US 89.

For the latest highway conditions across Arizona, visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 5-1-1 from any landline or mobile phone from anywhere in Arizona. Anywhere outside of Arizona, please call 1-888-411-ROAD (7623).