I-40 Exit May Get Extended Diverters

WESTBOUND I-40 EXIT MAY GET MORE DIVERTERS: P.M. emails “nothing has been done to alleviate the problem of vehicles exiting from westbound Interstate 40 to southbound Coors Boulevard. Vehicles are still exiting and crossing over three lanes of southbound traffic just so they can turn left/east on Iliff, causing (other) vehicles to honk their horns or flash their lights.”

P.M. goes on to write “there have been quite few near misses at this location. I suspect nothing will be done until there are a few accidents and maybe fatalities. Traffic diverters were placed at the eastbound I-40 to the southbound Coors exit. Traffic diverters need to be place(d) at the other southbound exit just north of this exit.”

And they very well may be.

Phil Gallegos, who handles information for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office, says “I have spoken to our traffic folks about the situation your reader describes, and they have agreed to look at the ‘weave criteria’ associated with this location, and, if justified, extend the post dividers further north to inhibit the three-lane movement. Ideally, traffic should not force the lane change but proceed one more intersection to safely get to their destination. We appreciate the comments. Stay tuned.”

ALAMEDA WILL GET MORE STRIPES: Another reader writes “since the repaving of Alameda between Second and San Pedro is done, when are they going to put the stripes in the closed sections of Alameda near Interstate 25? Unfamiliar with this area, drivers keep driving into the closed sections. Thanks for your help.”

Thank NMDOT. Gallegos says “the final striping will be placed approximately mid-May.”

NO NEED FOR UNSER ENVY ON 98TH: A “concerned resident” emails “I am so sick of reading about the work on Unser. I live off the end of Gibson west on Four Mile Road SW. They are spending all this money landscaping on Unser between Central and Dennis Chavez. They have put lights at Unser and Gibson where there is less traffic then there is at 98th and Gibson.”

“Now in the paper they are talking about doing work (on Unser) between Ouray and Interstate 40. I travel that road all the time. It is fine. What they should think of is completing the area between Gibson and Dennis Chavez on 98th.”

Concerned says “check out the traffic getting off I-40 onto 98th Street. Also check out the lines of traffic westbound on Central waiting to turn left on 98th. There is a lot more than those waiting to turn on Unser. I can appreciate the concerns of the people in the Ventana (Ranch) area. But our area needs more concern than the area of Ouray and I-40. There are a lot more homes on the area of 98th between Gibson and Dennis Chavez. I hope that someone will consider this and speak to our mayor.”

The city is already on the road to widening that stretch of 98th, with work expected to start this year.

Mark Motsko of the city’s Department of Municipal Development says “the city of Albuquerque is currently in the process of selecting a design consultant to design a four-lane road on 98th Street between Rio Clara and Blake Boulevard.”

It’s a continuation of work on 98th. “In 2009, the city constructed a two-lane road making the final connection of 98th Street from Sen. Dennis Chavez to I-40,” Motsko says. “In 2007, the city, with financial help from the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo and Flood Control Authority, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and developers built the box culvert and road over the Snow Vista Channel.”

But back to the current project. “Once the design consultant is selected,” Motsko says, “design should take about six months. We would hope to be in construction by the end of 2012. Construction should also take about six months. The design team will design the full four-lane configuration of 98th Street from Rio Clara to Blake. Phase I of the construction would go from Rio Clara to Colobel. Additional phases would follow.”

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.
— This article appeared on page 1 of the West Side Journal