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WHEN WILL UNSER CONNECT PARADISE TO PASEO? Mike Snyder emails “I live in Ventana Ranch and work at the University of New Mexico’s main campus. I have one simple question about the Unser extension from Paseo del Norte north to (where Unser turns into) Lyons: Is it EVER going to be finished?”
Mike says “this morning on my way to work, once again, it took four cycles of the traffic lights on southbound Universe, where it intersects Paradise and Paseo, for me to get through both intersections and turn left onto eastbound Paseo. The reason is painfully obvious to anyone who is there around 7 a.m. each day. The intersections overload because of the large volume of cars that come up Paradise Boulevard (and) turn onto Universe so they can turn onto Paseo. Everyone blocks the intersection rather than waiting for the light, and both lights — Paradise and Universe and Paseo and Universe — seem to be short-cycling.”
Mike says “the reason for the volume is that’s the ONLY way you can get to Paseo unless you want to go east on Paradise and join the traffic jam on Golf Course or Eagle Ranch trying to get on Paseo. It seems once the Unser extension is finished that folks will use it to access Paseo rather than gridlocking Universe every day. Any answers from the city of Albuquerque would be most welcome.”
Back in November, Mark Motsko, who handles information for the city of Albuquerque’s Department of Municipal Development, gave an overall update of what was happening with Unser.
It included: “Unser Boulevard widening from McMahon to the city limit is currently in the design phase, with estimated construction beginning summer 2013. Prior to this, we do have several other Unser Boulevard widening projects on the West Side, including Interstate 40 to Ouray, (construction to begin spring 2012), Paseo del Norte to Paradise (construction to be complete early spring 2012), and from the CNM driveway to McMahon (construction to begin summer 2012).”
I drive by the intersection regularly, and Unser south of Paradise is now blocked for construction.
That puts Mike’s Unser connection on schedule for completion this spring.
Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
