N.M. Congressional Delegation Announces $3.6 Million to Improve Access to Wilderness Areas in Catron

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, and Representative Harry Teague, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing $3.6 million from the economic recovery package to reconstruct a road that bisects two wilderness areas in Catron County.

The lawmakers reported that the funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will reconstruct 48 miles of road bisecting the Gila Wilderness and Aldo Leopold Wilderness. The project will improve safety for the visiting public, provide proper drainage of the road and reduce the travel time on the road from four hours to two.

"Right now, this stretch of road is not accessible to all vehicles. This $3.6 million investment from the economic recovery act will make traveling to the Gila and Aldo Leopold wilderness areas much easier," Bingaman said. "At the same time, it will put many people to work."

"This federal investment will create jobs in Catron County, as well as cut travel time and increase access and safety on the road bisecting the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness," said Udall. "It is also another great example of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping create jobs and improve New Mexico's economy."

"As the world's first designated wilderness area the Gila Wilderness is a tribute to the strong tradition of land preservation we have in the west," said Teague. "Properly investing in the road connecting the Gila to the Aldo Leopold will allow more people to enjoy this treasure of southern New Mexico while creating jobs to help our local economy."