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Thursday, April 10, 2008

I-40 Work to Begin in May; Expect Delays

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
    Westbound Interstate 40 will be reduced to one lane between the Zuzax and Sedillo Hill exits for reconstruction of the freeway starting in early May.
    The project was explained at an April 7 meeting at Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras.
    The meeting was attended by about 10 people.
    Construction will be on about a three-mile stretch of I-40. It is part of a $19.7 million, three-phase GRIP project.
    In the first phase, eastbound I-40 will be rebuilt, something that hasn't happened on this stretch of road in either direction for about 40 years, according to Jonathon Wasson, the project manager for the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
    This phase of the project will go on for 75 days, from May 5 to July 19.
    During that time, traffic will be diverted onto part of westbound I-40, where there will be two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane.
    "Those 75 days are really going to test some people's patience," said Megan Arredondo, a public information officer for the state Transportation Department.
    Lydia Koch, who maintains an e-mail list for traffic alerts, had concerns about the lane restriction.
    "If we've got one lane of traffic, and there's an accident ... are we just going to sit there?" she asked.
    She referred to lingering concerns about a multiple-hour traffic backup due to a crash in Tijeras Canyon in 2007, in an area without any ongoing construction.
    "We need to get that road open. That's part of my responsibility, to make sure that happens," Wasson said.
    He added that he would be working with law enforcement on the issue.
    After the first 75 days, according to the plan Wasson presented, traffic will be restored to two lanes for the rest of the project.
    Phase 2 of the project is scheduled for July 20 to Oct. 5, when reconstruction on the westbound lanes will begin. There will be no lane restrictions for that phase, Wasson said.
    From Oct. 6 to Nov. 16, the third phase of the project, widening the onramps and offramps at the Sedillo exit, will be done.
    After that, some minor work, such as lane striping and a friction course, will be completed. That work might bring the project into early 2009, but is not likely to obstruct traffic in a major way.
    The Sedillo and Zuzax exits might be closed periodically during the project and work, but Wasson said one of the two will be open at all times.
    "I would definitely anticipate increased traffic on Old 66 and North Zamora (Road)," said Neil Jackson of Mountain States Constructors, the company contracted to do the work.
    North Zamora Road is north of I-40 east of the Tijeras exits.
    Roadwork near the newly opened gas station off of Old Route 66 at the Sedillo exit might add a kink to the problem.
    The 16-pump station and convenience store, which was originally set to open in March of 2006, opened last month, according to owner Fred Rael.
    He still has to complete roadwork on 1,000 feet of Old 66 to make way for turning lanes onto his station and the nearby Park-and-Ride parking lot.
    "It's a big project," he said. "It takes a lot of coordination."
    Rael said rumors of a contractor walking off the job were not true. He said that work was halted because of weather conditions five weeks ago, which ruined road compaction.
    "We've got to get him to finish up," said Phil Gallegos, NMDOT District 3 public information officer. "It's time for that project to move along and not impact this project."