Latest news with #DanMayfield
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Road Warrior: Historic NM bridge closes due to erosion concerns; Montaño repaving work starts
Jun. 9—Happy Monday. The city of Albuquerque is reminding motorists that it has recently started a repaving project on Montaño NW from Guadalupe Trail to the Montaño bridge. Work on that "critical commuter road" will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily and is slated to be completed on July 10, Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said. HISTORIC BRIDGE SHUT DOWN: The Oñate Bridge in Española — built in 1941 — will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic indefinitely as engineers address concerns about riverbed erosion around one of the bridge's piers, New Mexico Department of Transportation spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Milhelcic said in a news release. The erosion could pose a risk during periods of high river flow, she said. "Given the potential for increased water levels and further scour during monsoon rains, this closure is a proactive first step to ensure everyone's safety," NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna said in a statement. NMDOT began monitoring the bridge in 2019 after an inspection identified erosion at a pier. A January inspection revealed further deterioration, prompting the need for action, Bustos-Milhelcic said. The bridge will be shutdown "while further evaluations and potential mitigation efforts are explored," she said. Traffic will be routed through two bridges on either side of the Oñate Bridge on U.S. 285 and N.M. 584. ENHANCING TRAFFIC FLOW: Rio Bravo Boulevard and Second Street SW will be closed from June 18 to June 22 so traffic lanes can be added and railroad crossing upgrades can be made. As part of the Rio Bravo and Second Street Intersection Project, an additional lane will be added in each direction along Rio Bravo from Barr Canal to east of Second Street, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said. The railroad crossing will be replaced with a newly constructed, widened crossing designed to accommodate the expanded six-lane road. Due to the nature of the work, construction will take place 24 hours a day throughout the closure, Smith said. Traffic will be detoured from Second Street to Woodward Road. U.S. 60 REHABILITATION: Motorists heading down U.S. 60 outside Mountainair may be wondering about lane closures. NMDOT is in the midst of a $2.5 million rehabilitation project, which has caused the closures from milepost 195 (two miles west of Abo) to milepost 215 (three miles west of Willard). NMDOT is working on a Hot-In-Place Recycling project. According to the Federal Highway Administration, this consists of rehabilitating deteriorated asphalt pavements. "The asphalt is removed, crushed, rejuvenated, and replaced onto the roadway, restoring flexibility and quality of the asphalt material," NMDOT District 5 spokesperson Jim Murray said. "This process reduces environmental impacts, speeds up timelines and reduces the cost of roadway miles maintained." Work is expected to be finished on June 27, he said. "Please reduce your speed, obey traffic control devices and expect delays," Murray said. For updates, he said people can visit or call 511.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Car hits new Downtown Albuquerque barricades, city touts public safety investment
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The city of Albuquerque reports that its latest investment in public safety is paying off, as demonstrated by a recent incident involving one of its new L-shaped steel barricades. The city states that the barricade was put to the test after a driver hit it head-on during last night's first summer Art Walk of the season. 'We were thrilled. The barricades are doing their job. Had the driver kept going, he probably would have driven into pedestrians on Central, and that's exactly why we installed those barricades,' said Dan Mayfield with the city's Department of Municipal Development. The incident occurred around midnight near 4th and Central, when the driver struck the barricade in the middle of the road, moving the 750-pound barrier only three feet. City rolls out new barricades for downtown Albuquerque weekend nights The new barricades have been in place for about two weeks, and although they are brand new, the city is pleased with their effectiveness, stating that they are a valuable investment for downtown safety. 'It's fine. They just pulled the car out. Apparently, the engine is wrecked. They reset the barricade, and everything was good to go for the rest of the night,' said Mayfield. The city initially purchased drop-down barricades a year ago, but those proved ineffective in preventing drivers from going through. The city acquired 83 of the new barricades, which offer greater mobility and allow for easier movement. These barricades are placed every weekend from 3rd Street to 8th Street. KRQE reached out to the Albuquerque Police Department to inquire if the driver was charged, but is still waiting for a response. The city noted that while the driver's vehicle sustained severe damage, the barricade remained intact. They plan to use these barricades in more areas across the metro and are considering purchasing additional units in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Albuquerque swaps speed cameras after switching companies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Three years into Albuquerque's speed camera program, most drivers know what to look out for, but the city said those old cameras are now being swapped out for something that could help the city nab more speeders. Story continues below News: UNM researchers make new discovery about Yellowstone National Park supervolcano New Mexico Strange: A dive into the Painted Lady's violent past, haunted present Community: Major renovation' planned for ABQ BioPark Children's Fantasy Garden New Mexico Crime Files: A deputy tazing a high school student goes too far The city is taking the old bulky cameras down for new sleeker ones that should see drivers from further away and even see through license plate covers. 'Everyone loves a higher resolution camera,' said Dan Mayfield, City of Albuquerque Municipal Development spokesperson. That's exactly one of the added perks with Albuquerque's new speed cameras, now replacing old cameras citywide. 'What we know is that there's three lenses to show different multiple views of cars passing by. And there's a sophisticated radar gun in there. And then we're going to be adding some more time to distance technology later,' said Mayfield. So far, the new camera rigs are up on poles watching drivers in both directions on Montgomery near Wyoming. The city also installed the new cameras on Central Ave. near the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. The upgraded cameras come after the city signed a new contract with a different vendor, Elovate. Because they're higher resolution cameras, the camera swap should make it easier for police to spot speeding drivers from further away and to read what's behind license plate covers. 'They just help us make sure we're getting the right driver when we are watching the video. APD officers watch that video to make sure that each citation goes to the appropriate vehicle owner,' said Mayfield. But replacing the cameras is just the start, as the city is now trying to find more places to put more cameras. 'Once all of those old ones are replaced, we'll start adding new cameras to the city. Those are those locations are based on the high-fatality injury network map that we have with the city. So we try to target the most dangerous areas first,' he said. The city said at least three cameras have been replaced so far, and the rest should be up in the next few weeks. By law, the city splits the money it collects from the speed camera program with the state. Any funds that don't cover the cost of the program go into the city's Vision Zero bike and pedestrian safety improvements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major project on Central in southeast Albuquerque looks to make road safer for pedestrians
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Get ready for the biggest revamp of Central Ave. since the ART project. A three-mile stretch east of Louisiana Blvd. will soon be the focus of a slew of pedestrian-focused safety upgrades. Story continues below Community: NM Dancewear closes its doors for good, leaving hole in dance community Food: Los Ranchos restaurant named best spot for brunch in the state by Yelp Crime: ABQ woman frustrated, two vehicles stolen from hospital parking lot days apart Film: Do you recognize these 'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' filming locations? The city said in the next few months, crews will narrow driving lanes, add new crosswalks, lights, and more on east Central Ave., with the goal of slowing cars and helping protect pedestrians. 'There are no buffers here. Cars are going fast here. The message that we are getting here today is that it's a highway in the middle of the city. So, by doing the road diet, I'm changing the passenger of the road, changing the speed limit, and adding some buffers and extra hawk lights. We will change the message of the road to drivers,' said Dan Mayfield, Public Information Officer for the City of Albuquerque's Department of Municipal Development. DMD said the road diet will cut down driving lanes on Central Ave. between Louisiana and Juan Tabo, from three to two lanes in each direction. That third driving lane will turn into a 'BAT lane' or 'Business Access and Transit lane.' That means no through traffic and only buses or cars turning right can use the 'bat lane.' They're also adding several mid-block crossings on Central, including two 'HAWK' signals east of Eubank Blvd., cutting the distance people have to walk to get to a safe crossing. 'We want to make sure that pedestrians know once we add the mid-block crossings, once we add the HAWK signals, once we add the new technology of red lights, it's way more convenient to cross at an approved intersection and cross at a crosswalk then it is to try to dart across the street which is unsafe,' continued Mayfield. The city said the project will also add over 200 solar-powered pedestrian lights. The $3 million project is now out for bid. Once they pick a contractor, it should take about three to four months to complete, with a goal of getting the whole project done by the end of summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
City of Albuquerque turns to AI to help warn drivers of pedestrians on Central
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With more deadly crashes on Central Ave., the City of Albuquerque is now turning to AI to help warn drivers when people are crossing the street. The city's Pedestrian Activated Warning System, or what they call 'PAWS,' is adding AI-powered lights on Central Ave. near Louisiana Blvd. That system recognizes when someone is walking across driving lanes, activating special lights to warn drivers. Story continues below New Mexico Insiders: What goes on at Kirtland Air Force Base? Film: Balloon Fiesta showcased in new Hallmark movie Crime: Alleged Venezuelan gang member arrested at Doña County judge's home Trending: NM Supreme Court rules that 911 dispatchers are liable in emergency call lawsuits 'So, we've spent several months training the cameras to recognize when people aren't just walking on the sidewalk, but when they're actually about to cross the street. And we've gotten to a point now with the cameras where they can spot when a pedestrian turns to walk across the street,' said Dan Mayfield, Public Information Officer for the City of Albuquerque's Department of Municipal Development. The Department of Municipal Development said the new system covers a several-hundred-foot section of Central Ave. on both east and west of the Louisiana Blvd. make it work, they're repurposing wildlife detection technology, which alerts drivers of deer and elk crossing the road. The city thinks it may be the first city in the United States to take on this kind of technology should be able to detect anyone crossing the street in its designated area near Louisiana Blvd., regardless of whether or not that person is in a marked crosswalk. 'This particular area is one of the worst in the city for pedestrian deaths. So this is a project we really think could save lives. This is one that we really hope will let drivers know there are pedestrians in the area,' continued Mayfield. The city has four signs up on Central Ave. Although the signs and cameras are now installed, they haven't turned on the system just yet. DMD said it's aiming to turn everything on sometime in early May. The city said the 'PAWS' system is just one part of a larger project, to add more pedestrian and mid-block crossings along with additional warning lights on east Central Ave. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
