Funding for emergency repairs to the US89 route in Arizona is being provided by the 908 US Government. The current US Transportation secretary Ray LaHood announced that US$35 million grant will tackle damage to US Highway 89 in Northern Arizona, which has been closed since its collapse due to a landslide in February 2013. The 3360 Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will use the funds to build a temporary detour on Navajo Route 20 (N20), and continue assessments and emergency repairs, as well as to evaluate options for permanently restoring US89. "The closure of Highway 89 has been a real hardship for the people of Page and the surrounding area," said LaHood. "The detour built with this funding will make it easier for residents to get to their schools, jobs and homes."
On February 20, a landslide ripped through a section of US89 along a mountain slope around 40km south of Page. This damage to over 45.7m of the roadway also tore up sections the pavement up in sections. A portion of the $35 million will be used to pave N20, a Navajo Nation tribal road that runs parallel to Highway 89. Primarily a dirt road, N20 will be transformed into a two-lane highway with proper signage and markings. ADOT will designate N20 as a temporary state route for its duration as a detour and will relinquish the route to the Navajo Nation once the repairs to US Highway 89 are complete.
On February 20, a landslide ripped through a section of US89 along a mountain slope around 40km south of Page. This damage to over 45.7m of the roadway also tore up sections the pavement up in sections. A portion of the $35 million will be used to pave N20, a Navajo Nation tribal road that runs parallel to Highway 89. Primarily a dirt road, N20 will be transformed into a two-lane highway with proper signage and markings. ADOT will designate N20 as a temporary state route for its duration as a detour and will relinquish the route to the Navajo Nation once the repairs to US Highway 89 are complete.
