45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO INITIATE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE FROM THE SAN JUAN CHAPTER COMMUNITY TO UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 64 AT HOGBACK.

WHEREAS, citizens of the San Juan chapter community must drive considerable distances to obtain basic necessities in either Shiprock or Farmington due, in part, to the lack of direct access to United States highway 64; and

WHEREAS, unlike many other chapter communities, there are no commercial enterprises within chapter boundaries from which residents may obtain basic necessities; and

WHEREAS, all of the roads within chapter boundaries are unpaved and, during warm weather, the main direct access to United States highway 64 is blocked by high water in the San Juan river; and

WHEREAS, this condition isolates the community and necessitates that chapter residents travel an additional twenty miles, one way, over unpaved roads to access basic goods and services; and

WHEREAS, residents of the San Juan chapter community are at risk of high river water preventing speedy access by emergency vehicles, including ambulances and law enforcement and fire vehicles, as well as by social and human services providers; and

WHEREAS, one family whose land will be directly impacted by such construction gave its consent to the bridge project years ago;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state highway and transportation department immediately initiate efforts to design and construct a bridge over the San Juan river connecting the San Juan chapter community with United States highway 64 at Hogback; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be sent to the San Juan chapter of the Navajo Nation, the secretary of highway and transportation and the state highway commission.