By Joshua Akers
Journal Staff Writer
RIO RANCHO— It isn't just an arena under construction in Rio Rancho's future downtown. Millions of dollars in projects are either under way or about to start near the intersection of Unser Boulevard and Paseo del Volcan.
The city is working to transform 160 acres of vacant land into an urban center that city officials believe will become the economic engine of Rio Rancho and New Mexico.
Residents who attended the recent "topping off" ceremony for the multipurpose event center might not see the progress, but work is under way all around the site.
The event center is more than 50 percent complete, according to International Coliseums Co., which is the city's project manager.
In addition to the arena, road construction, water and sewer lines are all on time or already in the ground, said John Kolessar, Rio Rancho's director of public infrastructure.
Mountain States Constructors is building a $4.85 million, 3.8-mile, two-lane stretch of Paseo del Volcan between Unser Boulevard and Iris Road. The project is on time and scheduled to be finished by Oct. 1, Kolessar said.
The second phase of Paseo del Volcan between Iris and U.S. 550 was given high priority by the federal government in the transportation bill, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation is in the process of acquiring right of way for the road, Kolessar said. Funding for the road will be allocated by Congress over the next four years.
The widening of Unser Boulevard to four lanes is under way between Abrazo and Farol Road. The widening project will cost about $7.36 million. It runs about two miles and will realign the road and bridge an arroyo. Sals Brothers Construction was awarded the project in February.
Kolessar said the Unser project is scheduled for completion in February but will be substantially complete later this year to accommodate arena traffic.
Also under way is the construction of Main Street and Civic Centre Drive, which will be the main entrance to Rio Rancho's planned City Centre. Both roads are under construction and scheduled to be complete by Oct. 1, Kolessar said.
Crews are laying water lines and other utilities in the ground where Main Street will be built. Once the utility lines are in, the road will be graded and paved.
The arena and a new $15.8 million city hall will be located off Civic Centre Drive.
Gerald Martin was chosen in December to build the 67,000-square-foot city hall. Construction is scheduled to begin in June and take one year.
City offices are expected to be relocated to the new building by July 2007.
Kolessar said the city is also installing a water tank and water line loop around the City Centre site to service other development on the city's 160 acres.
Last month, the City Council chose LWP Development out of Las Vegas, Nev., as the master developer for the planned City Centre.
LWP and the city are negotiating a master development agreement that will set out a timetable and phasing for the project and set the price for the city to sell its land to the developer.
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