Paseo Del Norte Project Includes Longer Exit

CAN WE GET A LONGER PASEO EXIT? An email from albdfjd asks for that short-term fix to a long-standing traffic-backup problem.

“Why not open up an exit (off Interstate 25) a few hundred yards sooner onto the northbound service road, allowing those that are exiting and heading east on Paseo not to be funneled in with those heading west, thus alleviating some of the congestion for those west-bounders?

“Rubber stanchions could separate the service road so that west-bounders aren’t tempted to use the eastbound exit.”

Turns out the double flyover plan – which will be paid for by the city and county bond issues approved Tuesday night that also garner matching state and federal funding – already incorporates that suggestion.

Phil Gallegos, who handles information for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office, says “if you look at the website photos, the ramp is longer and separates from through I-25 and later separates traffic from eastbound and westbound Paseo del Norte traffic. Sort of confusing, but the picture is much better.”

AND WHILE WE’RE ON PASEO: You can still tell the experts what commuter information will improve your daily trips.

Just click on to ABQjournal.com and check out the survey that ran with the Oct. 22 Road Warrior column. (The survey is here).

You can rank what information will make your commute easier – from wrecks to delays on river crossings – as well as how you want to get it, whether it’s on the electronic message boards, your smartphone, on www.nmroads.com or on the 511 roads phone line.

You can also email your input to road@abqjournal.com.

The information will be shared at an upcoming conference with the folks who put out the information and respond to traffic backups.

MORE COUNTY ROADS GET FACELIFTS: David Mitchell, Bernalillo County’s Operations and Maintenance manager, says crews will be working on $551,282 worth of road improvements “as weather permits right now through November.”

The projects include:

♦ Constructing Cove Court, Douglas Avenue, Blanda Court and Palmer Court in the Paradise Hills area.

♦ Constructing Airway Road, Grape Circle, Grape Avenue (west of Prince Street) and Williams Street.

The work is funded by grants, in which “the state gives us 75 percent of the cost against our 25 percent local (2010) bonds.”

In addition, the county will construct Isleta Boulevard from Gun Club Road to Muniz Road. That tab is estimated at $340,378.

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 505-823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 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