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Friday, November 06, 2009
Overpass, Freeway Undergoes Massive Reconstruction
By Lloyd Jojola
Journal Staff Writer
There are those who have had to live or work near it. Those who have been stuck in traffic jams trying to get through it. And those who have intentionally avoided the area because of it.
But the massive reconstruction of the Interstate 40/San Mateo interchange and the interstate lanes between San Mateo and Carlisle is coming to an end.
"We are looking to have no traffic lane restrictions after (today)," said Ted Barela, project manager with the state Department of Transportation. "We really are expecting to open everything up the way it was designed."
In response to that, Mid-Heights resident Krys Custer summed up what most people are probably thinking: "Woo-hoo. All right. Finally. Yes. Great."
Custer, who lives near Washington and Indian School west of the project area, is one of many who were impacted by the $41 million project that started October 2008.
"I live right off of Washington Street, so my street was extra busy. So I didn't like that," Custer said, referring to the drivers who used Washington as an alternative route.
She got used to avoiding San Mateo in the project corridor, she said, and recalled the traffic backups that occurred on streets like Menaul when restrictions or closures were in effect.
But she and others affected are convinced the end result will be a good one — and that it could have been worse.
"You have to keep telling yourself, 'We live in Albuquerque,' and it's not nearly as bad as it would be in some other city," Custer said.
The 390-day project, awarded to A.S. Horner, will be finished about a week ahead of schedule, Barela said. The Transportation Department has referred to the project as "the final piece to the reconstruction of I-40 through Albuquerque."
"Substantial completion" is expected to be reached by Saturday, Barela said Wednesday. "The weather last week really hindered us. ... We weren't able to finish up a few items that were weather-sensitive, like striping, some of the painting, some adhesives for certain items that needed to be put down. ... So that kind of rolled over into this week."
Crews are wrapping up work related to such aspects as striping, crosswalks, traffic signal and camera activation, and lighting.
In addition, Barela said, "We've got a few punch-list items that are ongoing." That means drivers, after today, could still see some crews finishing work next to the road, but officials don't anticipate any more daytime work that would affect traffic lanes.
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