Road Warrior: Bike lanes to be painted down Central in Downtown, lane closures expected

Happy Monday.

I hope everyone enjoyed a fun weekend on the road and got to-and-fro their Super Bowl parties safely.

For those heading down Central Avenue in Downtown this week, plan accordingly.

Over the next couple of weeks, the city of Albuquerque will be restriping Central between 2nd Street and 8th Street and adding new bicycle lanes, which will be marked with green and white paint.

From Monday until Feb. 19, the westbound lane on Central will be closed. This will be followed by closures on the eastbound lane Feb. 19-28.

It is suggested westbound travelers take a detour on Copper while eastbound motorists are encouraged to use Gold during the restriping, City Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said.

Businesses will have access to several loading zones on the numbered streets after the work is completed, he said.

If anyone has questions or concerns, Mayfield said they can contact City Councilor Joaquín Baca’s policy analyst Nathan Molina at 505-768-3332 or namolina@cabq.gov.

I-40 LANE CLOSURE: From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, the New Mexico Department of Transportation will shut down the eastbound right lane on Interstate 40 near Rio Puerco in order to do maintenance.

The work will take place between mile markers 139 and 141.

“Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and are advised to reduce speed, use caution, and seek alternate routes if possible,” NMDOT District 3 spokesperson Kim Gallegos said.

For updates, she said people can visit nmroads.com or call 511.

CARLISLE REOPENS: Part of Carlisle Boulevard is back open after being shut down for more than a week after a water main break.

The road, which had been closed between Constitution and Lomas NE, reopened Friday.

The only work remaining is road striping, but that should be done with “minimal traffic impact,” said David Morris of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

At about 12:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, a 24-inch concrete cylinder waterline broke in the 800 block of Carlisle NE.

The line was slated to be repaired over a week ago, but due to delays in getting parts, the road closure extended over a week, Morris said on Feb. 4.

RAGING ROADIES: Road rage is a problem in many places like New Mexico, according to Consumer Affairs, which reported the state having 2.08 road rage incidents per 100,000 people.

“While New Mexico doesn’t necessarily experience more road rage incidents than other states,” Consumer Affairs reporter Kaz Weida said, “it does have a higher per capita rate of driver confrontations involving a gun.

“Recent high-profile fatal road rage shootings (like the fatal shooting of the 11-year-old boy outside Isotopes Park) certainly haven’t helped improve the public perception of New Mexico’s hostile highways.”

DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS: According to a study by Simmrin Law Group, New Mexico is second in the country in most intersection accidents.

The state had 4.33 intersection accidents per 100,000 residents. Number one on the list is Florida with 5.19 accidents per 100,000 people, the study states.

“Motorists are urged to maintain legal speeds, stay focused on the road, and exercise caution when approaching yellow lights,” according to the news release. “Meanwhile, policy initiatives like installing clearer signage, optimizing signal timing, and improving lighting can help reduce the frequency and severity of intersection-related crashes.”

‘WHIPLASH HISTORY’: On Feb. 15, 1968, Federal Highway Administrator Lowell Bridwell announced a new motor vehicle safety standard requiring protective head restraints on all cars manufactured after Dec. 31, 1968.

“The standard is designed to reduce the frequency and severity of ‘whiplash’ neck injuries,” according to the Federal Highway Administration.