Oklahoma Tribal Nations Help Fund U.S. Roads

The nation's tribal governments, like other levels of governments in the U.S. receive federal funds for the construction and maintenance of roads. As Jarrel Wade, of Tulsa World reports, "The Indian Reservation Roads Program provides funds for the planning, designing, construction and maintenance of roads on Indian reservations, trust land, restricted Indian land and Alaska native villages..." In Oklahoma alone, "...tribes, 44 in total, received almost $67 million in 2011...," reports Wade.

Not only are the roads of the Oklahoman Tribal Nations benefiting, but, "[i]n Oklahoma, many of those areas are shared, and non-Indian Oklahomans benefit from the upkeep and construction of those roadways...The relationship between the tribes and the various local roads departments banks on good relationships as they reach agreements to fund projects that are mutually beneficial, officials said," reports Wade.

In the Cherokee Nation along, about 200 lane miles are on schedule to be constructed, stated Michael Lynn, director of the Cherokee Nations roads department.