Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick met with officials from Navajo County, the City of Show Low and the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside on Thursday in a comprehensive tour of areas targeted for improvement under a federal transportation grant application jointly submitted by the County and two communities. Dubbed the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant, the federal funding would significantly improve Scott Ranch Road and Billy Creek Bridge in southern Navajo County, as well as other infrastructure.

Board Chairman Jerry Brownlow explained the significance of the application, priority one of which includes paving Scott Ranch Road to create an east-west connection to divert traffic off Highway 260.

“I can see why it’s important to the public to have this alternate route,” said Congresswoman Kirkpatrick.

Chairman Brownlow agreed.

“This is an immensely important project, from the perspective of public safety as well as accommodating growth in the area,” Chairman Brownlow said.

Congresswoman Kirkpatrick agreed to draft a letter of support for the TIGER Grant to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“This would be a top priority of mine,” she said.

Chairman Brownlow showed the Billy Creek Bridge crossing to the Congresswoman and her staff, indicating the insufficient space for schoolchildren coming from the Blue Ridge schools complex to cross safely. Congresswoman Kirkpatrick mentioned that the narrow bridge was “a scary place for kids to walk across.”

"This is exactly the sort of infrastructure development I want to see in my district,” she said.

Navajo County, in conjunction with the City of Show Low and the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, will be filing the TIGER Grant application on September 15th of this year.

“We appreciate the County’s support on this, as well as the cooperation of the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside,” said Show Low Mayor Rick Fernau. “These are transportation infrastructure issues that need to be rectified, and quickly.”