TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation announced today it has been awarded $32 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program for a major highway improvement project along US-59 in Delaware County.
The project, also known as the US-59 Safety Improvement and Freight Development Project, will transform an eight-mile segment of US-59 from a two-lane road into a modern four- and five-lane highway with 10-foot shoulders throughout. This significant infrastructure investment will enhance safety, reduce congestion, and support economic growth in northeastern Oklahoma.
In May of 2024, the Cherokee Nation Department of Transportation applied for the INFRA grant to improve the US-59 corridor from Jay to Grove. The application included a total request for $32.1 million in grant funding to be matched with additional resources from Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for a total project cost of $57.1 million.
“The Cherokee Nation Department of Transportation and Infrastructure understands that maintaining a sophisticated transportation program in our communities is of vital importance not just to Cherokee citizens who live in and travel through the Cherokee Nation Reservation, but to everyone regardless of their tribal citizenship,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “This amazing project would not have been possible without local leadership – most notably Oklahoma State Representative Josh West, who made such a strong case to state, tribal and federal officials that US-59, connecting the communities of Grove and Jay in northeast Oklahoma, is a critical route used to connect commuters to work, school, health care and other quality-of-life needs they may have. The importance of this route, and the need for its expansion, cannot be overstated.”
The project will specifically improve access to the Grand Lake area and support the growing aviation and aerospace sector in the region, while enhancing safety and mobility for local agricultural operations.
“Infrastructure improvements of this magnitude will have lasting generational impacts for the residents of northeastern Oklahoma,” said Rep. West. “This project not only builds stronger, more resilient communities, but also ensures all citizens in Oklahoma have safe and reliable transportation infrastructure. This is a prime example of how federal, state and tribal partnerships can work together and make vital improvements for our citizens.”
The upgraded highway will feature improved shoulders and modern safety features, addressing long-standing concerns about road safety in the region.
“This $32 million federal investment through the INFRA grant program will be transformational for Delaware County and the Cherokee Nation Reservation,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “By expanding US-59 from Jay to Grove, we're not just improving a road – we're strengthening connections between our communities, enhancing public safety, and creating new opportunities for economic growth in this region. This project demonstrates what we can achieve when tribal, federal and state governments work together for the benefit of all citizens.”
Construction is slated to begin in fiscal year 2026. The project showcases the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to investing in rural and tribal communities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“This major infrastructure investment will dramatically improve the daily lives of citizens in District 9 and throughout Delaware County,” said Mike Shambaugh, Speaker of the Tribal Council and District 9 Councilor. “As someone who has traveled US-59 countless times, I know firsthand how critical this corridor is for our communities. Expanding this stretch from Jay to Grove will make the daily commute safer for our families, provide better access to jobs and healthcare, and support our growing tourism industry around Grand Lake. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking project that will benefit Cherokee citizens and all residents of Delaware County for generations to come.”
The INFRA grant program is a competitive opportunity that provides funding for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.
For more information about the U.S. Department of Transportation infrastructure funding awards, visit https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/investing-america-biden-harris-administration-announces-more-42-billion-bipartisan.