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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.
