MRCOG says its time to try again

June 16, 2009

Nearly eight years ago, D. Pennington & Associates tried to get a new east-west transit infrastructure built in the county, including at least one bridge across the Rio Grande.

Last night, that consultant and the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) were back at public meetings again discussing the issue.

“I was here about eight or nine years ago talking about this same issue,” said David Pennington of D. Pennington & Associates, the lead consultant for the MRCOG study. “I understand the public sentiments, some of the passion that goes with Valencia County. We’re here to give it another go.”

The 18-month interchange and bridge corridor study now taking place in the county was funded by state money provided to the Village of Los Lunas. It’s expected to end when MRCOG recommends where to place a new interchange and bridge to provide relief for Main Street, also known as New Mexico State Road 6 (NM 6), in Los Lunas.

“It looks at a new interchange, and then a roadway that connects the interchange at I-25 across to the Manzano Expressway,” said Loretta Tollefson, a MRCOG transportation planner, who carefully navigated her words to exclude “bridge” and “river.”

Efforts to build a new bridge across the Rio Grande nearly eight years ago was blocked by citizens trying to preserve the county’s agricultural land and heritage. Since that time, the amount of traffic on NM 6 has increased, leading to traffic delays, especially after the final school bell each day at Los Lunas High School or when construction shuts down one or more of its lanes.

“There are current problems facing NM 6, in particular,” Pennington said. “As Rancho Cielo continues to grow and as Huning Ranch continues to grow, some of those problems will become worse.”

Pennington said the study will consider east-west transportation issues, both present and future. The study will first consider existing roadway improvements and then new roadway construction.

While MRCOG’s study corridor has highlighted a study area from Miller Road at the north end of Los Chavez through Main Street in Los Lunas, Pennington said the citizens advisory committee, having already discussed the corridor, will now also consider an interchange and bridge north of NM 6 and south of Isleta’s southern boundary.

“We will look at some alternatives local businesses may not be very receptive to,” he said. “We will look at widening NM 6.”

MRCOG will look at access to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, the proposed county hospital and other sites that do and will create high traffic volume.

Pennington said public input meetings will be held by early August.

Posted in: Infrastructure