Estimated cost to repair Indian Road may be $3 million, work to begin soon

Repair work on Indian Road is “on the horizon” according to District 2 Commissioner for Sequoyah County Beau Burlison. Burlison announced Monday the Cherokee Nation plans to help with repairs which tribal engineers estimate could cost up to $3 million to make the road drivable again.

A “washout” or a partial washing away of the road occurred in May when four to five inches of rain fell throughout the county. The flooding, which washed out an area of Indian Road in Sequoyah County, also caused two other washouts on the same road, according to state highway officials. Indian Road connects two major highways in Sequoyah and Cherokee counties making it difficult for drivers who use the road regularly. But several agencies are working together to resolve the problem, according to Burlison.

Burlison, whose district includes Indian Road, located on the northern end of Sequoyah County, issued the following statements provided by him (Burlison) and the Cherokee Nation: “Residents in the northwest portion of Sequoyah County and southern portions of Cherokee County are expressing frustration with repairing damages to Indian Road caused by flooding but officials say work is on the horizon,” he stated.

“The Sequoyah County Board of Commissioners along with the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, the Cherokee Nation and Central Engineering District 2 are working together to fund and repair Indian Road,” Burlison said.

“I appreciate the patience given and the teamwork provided due to the road failure. I am encouraged by the progress made in the last month. I know that Indian Road is a valued travel route for work, school, business, tourism and recreation,” Burlison said.

Cherokee Nation Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Executive Director Michael Lynn stated, “Sequoyah County officials reached out to us recently to ask about the possibility of Cherokee Nation helping with extensive repairs along Indian Road in northern Sequoyah County, which was damaged during heavy rains and subsequent flooding in May 2022.

“This includes sections of Indian Road that were damaged by landslides and other impacts of the flood both in Sequoyah and Cherokee Counties,” Lynn said.

“The Cherokee Nation Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has identified funding through the federal Tribal Transportation Program and we are now working on the engineering portion of the project.

“We have fast-tracked this project because we understand the significance of Indian Road as a major route used by so many people each and every day. For this important repair project, once we are through with engineering and other processes required in order to begin the repairs, work will begin as soon as possible. We estimate this project will cost a total of between $2 million and $3 million.

“This project is just one example of the many ways the Cherokee Nation works with our community partners to improve infrastructure and quality of life throughout the tribal reservation. In fact, Cherokee Nation has completed nearly 18 miles of road projects in Sequoyah County since fiscal year 2019, investing more than $1 million into those project.

“In addition, Cherokee Nation has invested nearly $8 million toward the ongoing Dwight Mission Road project, which spans 5.5 miles and is approximately 80 percent.”