The interchange and bridge corridor study for the Los Lunas area entered its third month with discussion about whether or not the study should be focusing on a south-north corridor instead of an east-west corridor.

The project, officials say, has a goal of alleviating traffic on New Mexico State Road 6, otherwise known as Main Street in Los Lunas, between Highway 47 and the Los Lunas Interstate 25 (I-25) interchange. D. Pennington & Associates, which is conducting the study, has defined a limited east-west corridor south of Main Street.

Members of the study’s citizens advisory committee have strongly urged D. Pennington & Associates to look at possible solutions north of Main Street. Up to now, officials have suggested any solution to the congestion will be found by constructing a new interchange and possibly a bridge south of Main Street, either on Morris or Miller roads.

One citizen recommended an interchange at the intersection of I-25 and Coors Road, where Highway 314 (which becomes Coors Road) passes underneath the interstate, to include a four-lane Highway 314 from Los Lunas to that new interchange. Another citizen mentioned a possible extension of the Manzano Expressway to I-25, which could better serve the roughly 10,000 residents of Meadow Lake.

The citizens said they believe the problem is commuters going to and coming from Albuquerque for work, requiring a south-north corridor solution.

Both ideas were shot down by officials who suggested the problem with a south-north corridor solution is Isleta Pueblo, which will likely reject any increase in traffic through tribal land.

The study, which began in April, is expected to last a full 18 months.

This page was published on July 14, 2009 at 10:47am and is filed under Infrastructure.