TSE BONITO, N.M. – The Navajo Division of Transportation has completed an improvement project on a low water crossing on Navajo Route 6730 near Black Falls in Tolani Lake Chapter.

The crossing is located on N6730, approximately 10 miles west of Navajo Route 2. It transects the Dinnebito Wash near the community of Black Falls.

The undertaking was funded by $140,000 of Navajo Fuel Excise Tax funds and the selected contractor was Navajo-owned Arrow Indian Construction from Tempe, Ariz. Navajo DOT engineer and project manager Wayne Williams said it is one of the first to utilize cable concrete block matting to address erosion control while also reinforcing the integrity of the low water crossing.

“A layer of geotextile fabric was placed beneath the cable concrete to assist with erosion control,” Williams said. “Also, a layer of aggregate base course was placed on top of the cable concrete blocks to fill the gaps in the matting.”

According to Williams, the project was 140-feet in length and 24-feet in width. Navajo DOT Executive Director Garret Silversmith said using cable concrete can be more effective than using culverts.

“Over time we see that culverts get washed out and need replacement,” Silversmith said. “Cable concrete is stable enough to support vehicles that will cross over creek beds and permeable enough to allow water to flow through it.”

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez applauded Navajo DOT’s usage of innovative construction technology to fix a problematic wash crossing.

“Across the Nation, many dirt roads need this type of improvement,” he said. “We hope that chapters will work with Navajo DOT to prioritize these types of improvements in the transportation plans they have in place.”