More Gripes From Drivers In Duke City

THE READERS VENT: The weather is warming up and so are drivers’ tempers. Buckle up.

ABOUT THOSE STOP SIGNS: Tony emails “is it just me, or do the vast majority of drivers in Albuquerque ignore the lowly stop sign? I guess I haven’t been able to change with the times and roll through — or speed through — a stop sign like most of the drivers these days. So if we could simply get rid of the pesky stop sign, just think how many people would no longer be law breakers? And if I, personally, no longer felt the need to observe the tradition of stopping at one of these antiquated annoyances, the driver behind me would be much happier. They would no longer have the need to set their cellphones down when they throw their hands up in disgust and make assorted obscene gestures. It would be a win-win situation!

“At least until someone gets creamed in the intersection.”

AND THAT ADDITIONAL BRIDGE: CB says that “I think the reply to ‘when can we connect Rio Rancho to Interstate 25′ was completely inadequate; there were no solutions, just postponements. An additional bridge is an answer that will only cost more later. Ever been to Washington state? Those people know how to build bridges and move traffic.”

AND THE WORK ON SAN ANTONIO: Ron Hunter emails “when I first saw the signs announcing the upcoming work on San Antonio, I thought, ‘Wow. They must be going to enlarge San Antonio to three lanes in each direction,’ because San Antonio certainly didn’t need re-paving. It was about as smooth as any street in the city, smoother than most. Then when they started the work on April 16, I realized they were repaving a smooth street. I didn’t know Albuquerque had such a surplus of funds in the streets department, that they could afford to repave smooth streets. How about putting that ‘surplus’ money into projects that are desperately in need of funds, like setting it aside for the I-25/Paseo del Norte project. Here is a disaster that needs to be addressed about four years ago.”

AND THE SPOOF ON DRIVING RULES: Meredith Emery has one to add: “I did note one particularly angst-inducing omission: the two- or preferably three-lane cross on the thruway, with opposite turn signal engaged.”

NEW SIGNALS AT BRIDGE AND ISLETA: There will be no signals at this intersection from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today as crews working for Bernalillo County install new traffic signal equipment.

A county news release says the sheriff’s department will be directing traffic, but drivers are asked “to avoid the intersection of Bridge Boulevard and Isleta Boulevard during this time, and to seek alternate routes. Drivers can expect delays until the new traffic signals are operational.”

ALAMEDA TRAIL SHUTS EDITH: Edith will be closed at Alameda starting Wednesday for up to a month as crews working for the county build a pedestrian bridge over Edith.

The connection is part of the Alameda Trail project from Fourth to Edith, reads a county news release.

Edith traffic will be detoured to Alameda and Ortega; neighborhood traffic will have access to Edith Boulevard up to the bridge crossing. Drivers are asked to take alternate routes.

GIVE TRAMWAY TRAIL A BREAK: Drivers should watch for an influx of cyclists and pedestrians on the shoulder of northbound Tramway between Encantado and Copper through May 18 because the trail is closed for resurfacing.

Phil Gallegos, who handles information for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District 3 office, says in a news release that “repair work has begun on a Tramway Recreation Trail bridge. Recreation Trail users are being detoured to the shoulder. The NMDOT says that it is very important that there be no traffic over the bridge as it is being resurfaced. There is a necessary curing period for the resurfacing materials to harden appropriately. During this time any use of the bridge by pedestrians or cyclists will permanently damage the surface.”

NMDOT has gone the extra mile to coordinate with Jennifer Buntz of the Duke City Wheelmen Foundation, and they are asking that “cyclists using Tramway Boulevard be extra cautious in this area, watching for two-way traffic on the shoulder that may include foot traffic and cyclists. Motorists are advised to also be more cautious and reduce their speed. Everyone using Tramway Boulevard through this work zone can help make this detour period go smoothly and conclude with no incidents by slowing down and keeping a close watch for the extra traffic.”

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.
— This article appeared on page A4 of the Albuquerque Journal