The Roads Program is a diversified program encompassing the needs of the communities and sensitive to the needs of Native Americans. The operational capacity for the Roads Program includes the ability to conduct contracting, transportation planning, right-of-way negotiations, surveying, design, environmental clearances, and construction inspections, of which all meet or exceed Federal Specifications. Evaluations of the roads to be constructed are based on the percentage of Native American population and the changing needs of the community as a whole. The objectives of the projects are to supply direct routes to highways and towns and to upgrade and provide safer transportation for the total population of the project area. These road projects are federally funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Indian Reservation Road (IRR) Funding is channeled through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for planning, engineering, and construction of IRR Roads. Though the BIA provides these services the Cherokee Nation Roads Program with its group of professionals are able to produce and monitor road projects from inception to construction completion. Motor Fuel Tax, Motor Vehicle Tax, and Special Bridge funds are set aside by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council for road improvement projects which do not meet the standards for IRR funding.
The Roads Program incorporates the foremost level of technical operations prior to and during road construction. Right of way, environmental regulations and design characteristics are implemented in advance of any construction decisions. The Cherokee Nation Right of Way Specialist staff assesses the needs and provisions for each individual landowner and the community as a whole. An environmental assessment is performed for each project, including a complete survey on archaeological and cultural resources. Environmental concerns are addressed during the entire construction phase by the Cherokee Nation Road Project Inspectors. The development of road construction plans and specifications are produced by the CN Chief Designer and the Highway Design Specialists. Plans designed for the projects are constructed to fit the composition of the particular area in question, including all natural resources, hydrologic conditions, not to exclude economic and ecological factors. All Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) are designed according to Federal Highways Standards and are approved by a Professional Engineer, the Director of Roads, and the Cherokee Nation Principle Chief, with a copy to the BIA and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Subsequent functions during the design phase of the road project involve surveying of the project area performed by the CN Roads Surveying crew. The CN Surveying crew implements the highest quality of surveying standards into each road project. During the construction phase, CN Road Project Inspectors monitor all construction aspects of the construction projects. The Project Inspectors provide the Tribe with exact measures of the performance of the construction crews.
Current Roads projects include:
Adair County:
Honey Hill - Chewy North - Lyon Switch - Greasy Road - Malloy Hollow - Nicut North (Kirk Mtn.) - Dalonegah South - Pumpkin Hollow - Smith Hollow - Nicut Road South
Cherokee County:
Red Barn - Tenkiller School - Hulbert-Lost City - Dry Creek Road – Rice/Woodard - Cookson Road - NE Ft. Gibson - Dreadfulwater Road - Barber Road – Pumpkin Hollow
Delaware County:
Daytown/Dry Creek – Twin Oaks/Bull Hollow – Kenwood Road – Salina/Kenwood – Kansas/Dry Creek
Mayes County:
Cedar Crest Road & Bridge – Salina/Kenwood
Muskogee County:
Northeast Fort Gibson
Sequoyah County:
Nicut Road South
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