Sunday flooding forces road closures in several Navajo Nation communities
ROUGH ROCK, Ariz.
Flooding washed out roads in several Navajo Nation communities Sunday, forcing closures in Piñon, Dilkon, Red Mesa, Mexican Springs and Indian Wells as rising water threatened additional routes.
The Navajo Division of Transportation posted updates throughout Sunday, Nov. 1, beginning with the closure of Navajo Route 4 and N8031, known as London Bridge, in Piñon after a washout.
By early afternoon, additional closures had been reported. N9860 in Dilkon was closed because of a washout, while Route 409, also known as Flat Top Mountain Road in Red Mesa, was washed out amid fast-moving water.
Navajo Route 30 in Mexican Springs was also closed following a washout.
In Chinle, the Navajo Police Department’s Chinle District closed a bridge along Navajo Route 7. Another washout forced the closure of N9804 in Indian Wells.
Heavy flooding was reported at Walker Creek Bridge on Navajo Route 35, west of Sweetwater Chapter. The road remained closed because of an earlier washout near the bridge.
Elsewhere, water was flowing over Navajo Route 15 in Cornfields and Navajo Route 6 at milepost 19 in Indian Wells. Pools of water were also reported along Route 15 between Greasewood and Indian Wells.
At Nazlini Wash, motorists were reportedly attempting to cross flooded areas using N8017, N8018 and N26. Navajo DOT warned against using those routes to cross the wash.
Access into the canyon at Canyon de Chelly National Monument was closed because of high water, although the park and roads leading to scenic overlooks remained open.
Flooding continued into Sunday evening. At 5:52 p.m., Navajo DOT shared video showing rising water at Ganado Bridge in Ganado. The footage was recorded at 5:10 p.m.
Readers can support Navajo Times journalism with an e-Edition subscription, available through our Navajo Times Store.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow