Dixie National Forest sets closure, completion schedule for road to Navajo Lake

Navajo Lake Road under construction during summer and fall 2016. The road will close Dec. 7 for the winter season until spring 2017 or following when the work will be completed. Dixie National Forest, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dixie National Forest, St. George News / Cedar City News

KANE COUNTY – Navajo Lake Road, a high-traffic roadway to Navajo Lake and North Creek Road in Dixie National Forest will soon close seasonally postponing completion of a construction and repaving project that has been ongoing through the summer and fall.

Navajo Lake Road during construction and repaving project, summer and fall 2016. The road will close Dec. 7 for the winter season until spring 2017 or following when the work will be completed. Dixie National Forest, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dixie National Forest, St. George News / Cedar City News
Navajo Lake Road during construction and repaving project, summer and fall 2016. The road will close Dec. 7 for the winter season until spring 2017 or following when the work will be completed. Dixie National Forest, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dixie National Forest, St. George News / Cedar City News

Reconstruction and paving of the formerly gravel road, also designated as Forest Road 30053, began June 6 and is, a news release from the forest service states, about 85 percent complete. The project aims to reduce dust hazards, improve visibility and enhance overall safety of roadway conditions.

Closure begins Dec. 7 and will remain in place until construction can resume in late spring or early summer 2017, as weather conditions allow. Officials estimate 4-6 weeks of road construction and final paving will be required to complete the project once work resumes.

“The seasonal closure is in place to protect the multimillion dollar investment from vehicle traffic and ruts that the local contractor would need to fix in the spring,” Forest Engineer Steven O’Neil said.

Navajo Lake Road provides access to summer recreation cabins, trails, campgrounds, Navajo Lake and the North Creek Road. 

Federal Highway Administration awarded the reconstruction contract to Cedar City contractor Mel Clark Inc. According to the forest’s news release, the project, performed by Clark in partnership with the FHA, Dixie National Forest and Kane County, consists of roadway excavation, grading, drainage improvement, aggregate base, rock walls, asphalt paving, erosion control, signing and striping, seeding and mulching. It also involves temporary traffic control along the road’s entire 5.7 miles when construction is underway.

“The remaining work to pave will go very quickly,” Rob Bullock of Mel Clark said. 

Kane County will maintain the road under an easement once paving is complete.

Resources

  • Dixie National Forest: Facebook | Twitter.
  • Contact regarding Navajo Lake Road project: Cedar City Ranger District | Telephone 435-865-3200.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews 

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1 Comment

  • .... November 28, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    This is absolutely a great project for all those that visit the area and it will be a positive improvement for the tourist business. and I would like to thank all those involved in making this possible.

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