Road Warrior: Isleta Boulevard project to begin in fall; Beware of toll scam, NMDOT says
People traveling down Isleta Boulevard could expect to see some work done in the coming months.
Starting in the fall, phase one of the improvements project on Isleta will take place from Malpais to Luchetti SW and it will include new pavement and buffered bicycle lanes, landscaping and irrigation, and wider Americans with Disabilities Act sidewalks.
The cost is about $11.5 million with $8 million coming from state coffers, $2.9 million from the federal government and the rest in county funds, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said in a news release.
"This represents a substantial investment in the safety of our roadways and sidewalks," District 2 Commissioner Frank Baca said in a statement. "I would like to thank the state and federal governments for their contributions."
Work is scheduled to take at least 18 months to complete, Smith said.
I-25 REHABILITATION: Interstate 25 between Socorro and Truth or Consequences is getting a $15.9 million upgrade.
On May 7, rehabilitation work began between mile markers 115 and 125 near San Antonio. The project is scheduled to be completed in 145 working days, New Mexico Department of Transportation District 1 spokeswoman Ami Evans said.
Closures will take place between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
"Drivers can expect various daytime lane closures on both the northbound and southbound lanes as needed for milling and paving operations," she said.
TOLL SCAM: NMDOT has issued a warning about a scam targeting people with fake toll road payment demands.
"These scammers create a false sense of urgency by threatening license suspension or legal action to panic people into making these payments," NMDOT Secretary Ricky Serna said in a statement. "Remember, since New Mexico has no toll roads, any message claiming you owe toll fees in our state is 100% fraudulent."
NMDOT suggests people do not click links in suspicious texts or emails and do not scan QR codes about toll payments, NMDOT spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Milhelcic said.
EMS CRASHES: New Mexico had the third highest rate of fatal crashes involving emergency medical services personnel, 27.23 accidents per 100 EMS first responders in 2020, according to a recently published study by personal injury attorneys Foster Wallace.
DANGEROUS LIGHTS: A Moriarty resident said they are concerned about two stop lights on N.M. 333, or Route 66, in Tijeras.
When one of the lights turn green, drivers have to merge with traffic coming off the interstate causing people not to be able to "tell what lane they are in and they are coming too fast," they said.
"The second light is also dangerous," they said. "Some people are supposed to yield, and sometimes they don't. I am so afraid of these lights that I try not to go to Albuquerque very often.
"The whole section needs to be redone."
Memorial Day weekend is coming up. First, a huge thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Second, if anyone is hitting the road or has a fun Memorial Day weekend road trip memory, email ghasman@abqjournal.com.
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