Road Warrior: Bernalillo County to remove lane on Fourth Street; Rio Rancho to replace speed cams

Happy 99th birthday to Route 66 and other U.S. highways.

On Nov. 11, 1926, the American Association of State Highway Officials adopted the U.S. numbered highway system.

In Bernalillo County, the pre-1937 U.S. 66 alignment went down Fourth Street. Part of which is expected to see a lane reduction.

On Oct. 14, the Bernalillo County Commission approved an agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to reduce the lanes on Fourth between Ortega Road NW, near Paseo del Norte, and Alameda Boulevard NW from four to three (one-lane each way plus a center turn lane).

The project will also include adding storm drains, curbs, gutters, bicycle lanes, Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible features and pedestrian safety improvements such as the addition of a HAWK (high-intensity activated crosswalk) signal.

The cost of the project is about $7.8 million. Of which, $5.1 million is coming from federal coffers while the county will contribute an $870,801 match and $1.79 million in bonds, according to a county meeting agenda.

There are 48 homes and businesses on the Fourth Street corridor that will be impacted by construction. Properties on the side streets — including and between Ortega and Alameda — will also be affected, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said in an email.

“The selected contractor will be required by the construction contract to ensure access to these side streets and the properties along Fourth Street is maintained, unless otherwise communicated and coordinated by the contractor,” she said.

The design is expected to be finished in the fall with bids slated to start at the end of the year. Work could begin in winter 2026 and be finished in fall 2028, according to the county.

SPEED CAMERAS: On Dec. 13, the Rio Rancho Police Department will replace 10 speed cameras with new ones.

Once the upgraded cameras are installed, there will be a 45-day grace period where only warnings will be issued for people caught speeding. Speeding citations will remain at $100, RRPD announced in a news release on Oct. 31.

YOUTH AMBASSADORS: Three Albuquerque students were named as 2025-26 Land of Enchantment Young Ambassadors, a statewide program focused on preventing litter and graffiti.

Volcano Vista High School senior Oluchi Akwani, Early College Academy student Sahba Ghasempour and Albuquerque High School junior Kate Watkins were among the 14 students chosen.

The Young Ambassadors initiative is part of NMDOT’s Que Linda program and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s youth-focused #KeepLitterOut campaign, which “aims to empower youth to lead local beautification efforts across New Mexico,” NMDOT spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic said in a news release on Friday.

Each ambassador committed to a nine-month program and will organize a beautification event in their district and complete a project designed to create sustainable solutions to litter and graffiti issues in their communities. Students will receive a $3,000 stipend upon completion of the fellowship and projects, she said.

More than 150 students applied for the program that builds leadership, project management and civic engagement skills, Bustos-Mihelcic said.

“Ambassadors were selected by a committee based on their demonstrated life skills and teamwork developed through participation in clubs or events, their strong interest in leadership and project management, their genuine passion for environmental issues and their eagerness to take on leadership roles that contribute to enhancing the beauty of New Mexico,” Bustos-Mihelcic said.