Joined by state and tribal leaders, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson rallies support for Navajo Mountain Transportation Corridor with off-road vehicle convoy

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and a caravan of state legislators, tribal leaders and transportation officials in off-road vehicles got a taste of everyday life for hundreds of residents who live in two of Utah’s most remote communities on Thursday. The group spent hours driving on a long weather-worn dirt road between Oljato and Navajo Mountain.

Lt. Gov. Henderson, the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, the San Juan County Commission and the president of the Navajo Nation are rallying support for the Navajo Mountain Transportation Corridor – a proposal to construct a 65- to 70-mile roadway across Navajo Nation lands that would drastically shorten the current journey for community members. The road would bolster the local economy, increase emergency response times and grow tourism in the region. The corridor would connect to State Route 276 and other northern destinations.

“We have a really unique situation down in southeastern Utah,” Lt. Gov. Henderson said. “Navajo Mountain, a sacred place to the Diné in Utah, isn’t accessible from Utah. Today we joined tribal leaders from the Oljato Chapter to drive on the very bumpy and horrible dirt road between Oljato and Navajo Mountain. We are hoping to get the wheels in motion to get a road connecting the two communities.”  

“You can’t have opportunity and you can’t have economic development without basic infrastructure,” she added. “Not only would this road boost economic opportunity in the region – which is very important – but it would advance the health, safety, education and well-being of the people in southeastern Utah.”

A 30-mile stretch of rugged desert plateaus and valleys separates Oljato from Navajo Mountain; however, the fastest route between the Utah communities requires residents to drive three hours – almost entirely through Arizona – to travel between the two destinations.

Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Sens. David Hinkins and Ronald Winterton, and Reps. Melissa Ballard and Phil Lyman joined Utah Department of Transportation officials and Navajo Nation Oljato Chapter President Willis Begay on the journey.

“It’s good to have boots on the ground,” Sen. Hinkins said. “This road would shorten the commute for people here by around two hours. The area is beautiful and majestic – with a lot of red rock – and it would be really inviting to the world and the residents in Utah to come and see the scenery here.”

The proposed three-phase project, which would start with a dirt road connection between Navajo Mountain and Oljato, includes two alignment options. The final phase would pave the route in its entirety.

Thursday’s trek marked Lt. Gov. Henderson’s second tour of the road.

The lieutenant governor and a convoy of state, tribal and county leaders drove the road to attend an April 29, 2021, meeting at the Naatsis’áán Chapter House to discuss water and infrastructure issues, including the Navajo Mountain Transportation Corridor.

Leaders hope to garner further support for the proposal ahead of the 2023 General Session.