Road Warrior: NMDOT to look into 'scary' Rio Rancho intersection; paying homage to Smokey

Happy Monday.

Let’s start with a reminder that Bernalillo County is launching its new automated speed enforcement system.

The county has installed 10 speed cameras, all in the area of Coors, and will start with a 30-day warning period. During that period, drivers will get notices without fines or due dates. Speeders will start receiving citations on Sept. 25, my colleague Cathy Cook wrote last week.

RIO RANCHO INTERSECTION: On Aug. 15, two people died in a fatal crash at U.S. Highway 550 and Northwest Loop in Rio Rancho.

“It’s scary at that intersection,” a Facebook user said.

New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 Traffic Engineer Nancy Perea said in an email that NMDOT has received comments about U.S. 550 and Northwest Loop and will be taking a closer look at the intersection.

During the assessment, Perea said NMDOT will factor in things like traffic volume, speed and crash patterns.

“The NMDOT strives to manage motorist expectations and work through the challenges of various driver behaviors,” Perea said. “We appreciate this matter being brought to our attention.”

MEDIAN WORK: Last week, after I got off Interstate 40 at Tramway, I turned right at the light to go to Smith’s and saw northbound and southbound lanes on Tramway and Central closed, including the one needed to use to turn into the parking lot.

According to the city, the closures have been in effect since Aug. 19 so the median could be expanded. Work is expected to be finished Thursday.

U.S. 60 BRIDGE: David Policansky asked about the status of the bridge replacement project on U.S. 60 near Abo Pass in Socorro County between mile markers 186 and 187.

New Mexico Department of Transportation District 5 spokesperson Jim Murray said work was scheduled to resume early this month after being delayed due to a groundwater issue. Murray said the project is about 90% complete and expected to be done this week.

OUTDOOR REC GRANTS: The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division recently announced the fiscal year 2023-24 Trails+ Grant recipients. The grant program supports projects that enhance communities’ outdoor rec opportunities.

Awards totaled about $3.2 million to 17 recipients.

HAPPY BELATED, SMOKEY: This is the last Monday in August, and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge an American icon who is buried near a U.S. highway.

The legend of Smokey Bear began on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Ad Council made him their symbol for forest fire prevention. It was the introduction of a real bear, six years later, however, that turned Smokey into a legend.

In 1950, according to the U.S. Forest Service, a wildfire in New Mexico orphaned a black bear cub. A firefighter took him home and got him medical attention. Later, he offered the cub to the Forest Service with the condition that the bear be dedicated to conservation. The Forest Service accepted the cub and the condition.

Smokey (or “Hot Foot Teddy”) became so beloved he was assigned his own zip code, 20252.

He would live out the rest of his days at Smithsonian’s National Zoo before being buried at Smokey Bear National Park in Capitan.

The Nov. 18, 1976, issue of the Albuquerque Tribune reported more than 300 people, half of which were children, attended his funeral.

On that next drive down U.S. 380, visit Smokey.

Gregory R.C. Hasman covers crime and breaking news for the Albuquerque Journal. He could be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.