$152 million project to rebuild Hwys 162, 262

by Bill Boyle
San Juan Record Editor
Work crews will begin work soon on a massive road project in southeast San Juan County. Groundbreaking ceremonies on the 54-mile, $152 million project took place on August 13 in Montezuma Creek.
The road upgrade project, which will occur over the next 18 months or more, is designed to benefit local residents, visitors to the area and oil workers. The entire stretch of Highway 162 in Utah – from Bluff to the Colorado state line – will be the focus.
In addition, Highway 262 will be upgraded. The road stretches along McCrakken Mesa from Highway 191 at the base of White Mesa to Montezuma Creek.
Major projects in the effort will include a new roundabout at the intersection of the highways in Montezuma Creek and a new bridge to replace the aging structure over McElmo Creek between Montezuma Creek and Aneth.
The initial road work will be along Highway 262 on McCrakken Mesa. Officials are attempting to complete the project within 18 months, but weather and other delays may extend the completion date.
Officials have been discussing the project for many years and combined several different needs into the massive $152 million project. Portions of the project are in the Navajo Nation and required coordination between state and tribal entities.
“It’s been almost 20 years of hard work and collaboration between state and tribal leaders to get to today’s groundbreaking,” said Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.
A release from the Utah Department of Transportation stated, “This project will make travel safer, smoother and more convenient for the residents in the area; visitors traveling to Bears Ears, Four Corners and Hovenweep National Monument; and workers serving the petroleum extraction industry in the region.”
UDOT said that $48 million for the project comes from a Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects grant, $79 million from another federal grant and $25 million from the state.
Work on the road section, dubbed the “energy corridor” by UDOT given its use by oil workers, is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.