UDOT | Navajo Nation_Logo 

Project Introduction

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) in partnership with the Navajo Nation has received a Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Grant. The Grant will be used to improve safety on SR-162 and SR-262 in San Juan County, Utah.  Additional federal and state funding has been approved with work tentatively scheduled to begin in August 2024.

Project Purpose and Improvements

The project objectives are intended to improve safety and pavement along 53 miles of road in San Juan county between SR-162 and SR-262.  Additional improvements include the rebuild of multiple structures, and other roadway specific enhancements. 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 Monuments; and workers serving the petroleum extraction industry in the region.  The following is a shortlist of several key upgrades:

  • Improve and/or reconstruct pavement
  • Improve and/or install safety features such as guardrail, cattleguards, extra signage, protected turn lanes, and pavement markings
  • Widen lanes and/or add shoulders
  • Rebuild or improve several dozen culverts and flood mitigation infrastructure
  • Construct a roundabout at the SR-162 and SR-262 intersection
  • Replace the SR-162 bridge over McElmo Creek
  • Install fiber-optic conduit
  • Install over 50 cattleguards at various roadway access points
  • Construct a livestock crossing under SR-162

 

 

 

Job Site Photo 262

Culvert Extension and Headwall Assembly | SR-262 | 021025

 

Shoulder Extension ImageShoulder Extension Image
Shoulder Extensions | SR-262 | 021025

 

 

Cattleguard Image

Completed Cattleguard Installation | SR-162 @ Montezuma Creek | 021025

 

Fiber Optic Image

Trenching for Fiber Optic Conduit Installation | SR-262 | 021025

Schedule Icon  Schedule

complete
complete
Pre-Construction 2024

  • Contractor Advertising (March/April)
  • Contractor Awarded (May)
  • Groundbreaking Event (Aug 13)

Navajo Nation - Aneth Chapter Logo

live
live
Construction Start: mid-August 2024

Work Hours: 7am - 7pm 

Workdays: Monday - Friday

(Updated as of 3/26/25)

SR-262

US-191 to Montezuma Creek:  Crews continue to move dirt into place adjacent to the road in preperation for shoulder widening additions.  Variable paving activity expected to begin by Wednesday, April 4. Traffic control along the route will require up to x2 individual flagging and pilot car operations to maintain safety for crews moving equipment.  Motorists should expect light delays.

SR-162

Bluff to Montezuma Creek:  Off-road work continues.  Occasional local traffic control may be necessary.  Delays should be light.Montezuma Creek to Aneth:    Starting Monday, March 17, crews will begin paving and road reconstruction activities in 2-mile sections.  A single moving flagging and pilot-car operation will be required.  Please plan on up to 15 minutes delays, or longer during peak perids.  Look for prep work and traffic control development work at the SR162-262 roundabout location.

Aneth to Colorodo Border: Various cattleguards are bieng installed along the route.  Traffic control is not necessary.

 

2025 Paving Schedule

Paving actitivities are underway between between Montezuma Creek and Aneth.  Light/moderate delays are possible from 5-15 minutes.  Excess delays possible during peak periods.

 

SR-162 | Aneth Bridge Schedule

Work at the bridge site continues.  Almost all the work involves building up the embankment and approach for the new bridge location.  The structural work to erect the new bridge is estimated to begin in May.

 

SR-162 | Aneth Bridge Schedule

The SR-162/262 roundabout work will begin is underway with drainage & traffic control bypass prep in progress.  

Please note that traffic control is in place.  See the 'Latest Impacts and Updates' tab for more information.

planned
planned
Construction End: Summer 2026

Schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions and material availability.

News Headlines

Navajo Nation officials break ground on $152M San Juan County road upgrade | KSL - Aug 14 & Deseret News - Aug 15

Energy Corridor project groundbreaking | UDOT - Aug 13

KSL-TV News Video  Aug 13

San Juan Record | Aug 20

San Juan Record (Update) | Oct 16

 

Construction Cameras

McElmo Bridge (Live)

SR-162/262 Roundabout (Coming Soon)

 

Email Updates

February 26, 2025

October 11, 2024

Contact Information

To contact the public information team with questions or concerns:

Hotline: 801-838-8364

Email: sr162-262@utah.gov

Website: udotinput.utah.gov/sr162-262

Stay Informed

To receive occasional construction updates, please contact the public informaiton team at the email address above and enter "Weekly Updates" in the subject line.