Latest news with #NewMexicoDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
10 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
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Safety concerns raised after sizeable hole seen on I-40 bridge near Santa Rosa
GUADALUPE COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A hole in the middle of a New Mexico interstate bridge has raised panic for some drivers and people near Santa Rosa, but the state says, while it might look bad, it's nothing big to worry about. New Mexico Department of Transportation crews learned about the bridge hole on Wednesday morning, after drivers called it in. Story continues below New Mexico Insiders: Leader Of Albuquerque FBI Steps Down Trending: Family of 105-year-old Bataan Death March survivor shares his story Crime: New Mexico correctional officer caught by husband for bringing drugs to inmate, court docs show Community: Poll: Where is the best place to go camping in New Mexico? One driver said they've seen this problem developing for weeks, with concrete falling on the road below. 'We had to address the issues because they hadn't worked on it for over three weeks, and enough was enough. It was a big ole hole. Someone was liable to get hurt,' shared Janie Yearley of Santa Rosa. The hole is on the I-40 west bridge in an area that is just west of Santa Rosa. Viewer video showed that you could see the hole through the bridge on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, crews covered the open area of the bridge deck with old road signs. NMDOT said crews are now working on repairs that should take a few days, with lane closures in the meantime. Although the hole is sizeable, NMDOT says the overall bridge is in 'satisfactory condition' and that drivers shouldn't worry about it. 'The hole on the bridge, it's anywhere from an eight to a ten-inch hole. It's localized, so it's in a small area. You know, it's not the entire bridge structure that's crumbling here. But basically, it's just deterioration of the concrete spalling. It blew through the bridge deck,' said Travis Martinez, NMDOT Public Information Officer. NMDOT said maintenance crews expect to replace the blown-out concrete over the next four days. For now, crews have put a cone over the hole on the top of the bridge. While underneath it, they're using old signs to help reinforce repairs to the area. While the repairs take place, NMDOT said traffic on westbound I-40 will be down to one lane across that bridge just west of Santa Rosa. NMDOT said it considers this bridge hole uncommon, but something that can happen from time to time. If you spot a problem, they ask you to report it to the local district office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Travel advisory issued for Southern New Mexico
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Travel advisories have been issued for Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14, due to strong winds and blowing dust expected to impact Southern New Mexico between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) said. NMDOT said the National Weather Service has forecasted sustained wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph and peak gusts up to 45 to 55 mph, peaking between 3 and 6 p.m. If you must travel, NMDOT recommends monitoring local forecast conditions before starting your trip and visiting for current roadway information. Roadway conditions may change quickly, and blowing dust can escalate to blinding dust storms as they move quickly through remote areas, NMDOT said. If you are approaching a dust storm or caught in a dust storm, NMDOT said to follow the guidelines below to help you stay safe: Avoid driving into or through a dust storm. Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway — do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can. If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down. Do not stop in the roadway; pull completely out of the travel lanes and as far onto the right shoulder as possible. Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel. Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers. Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake. Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass. Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds. NMDOT will be monitoring roadway conditions with local law enforcement. Roadway advisories will be posted here or by calling 511. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
NMDOT warns about unpaid toll scam
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is warning about a scam targeting New Mexicans with fake toll road payment demands. NMDOT said it has seen a surge in calls from concerned citizens who received fraudulent text messages demanding immediate toll payment. New Mexico does not operate any toll roads within state boundaries and will never request toll payments from residents or visitors. Story continues below Crime: Parent speaks out after gun found on Albuquerque Public Schools campus Don't Miss: Which ABQ restaurants has Guy Fieri visited on 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives'? National: Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass, calls his election both a cross and a blessing 'These scammers create a false sense of urgency by threatening license suspension or legal action to panic people into making payments,' NMDOT Sec. Ricky Serna stated in a news release. 'Remember, since New Mexico has no toll roads, any message claiming you owe toll fees in our state is 100% fraudulent.' Officials said scammers are sending urgent messages claiming that 'enforcement action' will begin after May 14, 2025. Scammers have also made calls claiming toll violations with threats of penalties and created fake websites that mimic official government pages. If you receive a message about unpaid tolls in New Mexico, disregard it and do not click links or scan QR codes that may have been sent by scammers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bernalillo County installs speed cameras on some state roads
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – More speed cameras are popping up in Bernalillo County, and this time, drivers will see them on some state roads. The New Mexico Department of Transportation approved the county's plan to install cameras at five state-owned facilities in late 2024. 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? So far, the county says cameras have already been installed at some of the locations. See the table below for the location and the status of the cameras: Camera locations Operation status Dennis Chavez Boulevard (NM 500) northbound and southbound between Condershire Drive and Coors Boulevard In operation for a couple of months now. Alameda Parkway (NM 528) westbound between Rio Grande Boulevard and Guadalupe Trail Active for about two weeks. Coors Boulevard (NM 45) northbound between Gun Club Road and Rio Bravo Boulevard Active for about two weeks. Coors Boulevard (NM 45) northbound between Sage Road and Tower Road Slated to be in operation in about three weeks. Tramway Boulevard (NM 556) northbound between Tramway Terrace Place and San Rafael Avenue Slated to be in operation in about 90 days due to PNM having to install a transformer. The county began its automated speed enforcement program in September and initially installed six cameras on county-maintained roads. Those cameras were placed two in the North Valley and four around the South Valley. In March, the county said it had received 17,540 citations that have been paid since the program began. County Commissioners also recently approved a budget increase to help cover operations into next year. The nearly $1 million would be used to cover law enforcement officers reviewing the cameras and issuing the tickets as well as a hearing officer. Funds would also go toward a full-time coordinator to run the program, a job that's been done so far by temporary staff members. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
