Road Warrior: Parts of Edith Boulevard close due to road, utility work; NMDOT, Greyhound announces service expansion

Motorists can expect some inconveniences on Edith Boulevard over the next several weeks.

On Oct. 13, Bernalillo County closed Edith between Los Ranchos Road and Osuna Road due to roadway and utility improvements.

The closure will remain in effect until Nov. 17, “barring any unforeseen delays,” Bernalillo County spokesperson J. Austin Munn said in a news release on Oct. 7.

During the closure:

• Drivers going north on Edith will be detoured west on Osuna, then north on Second Street and east on Los Ranchos Road before reconnecting with Edith.
• People heading south on Edith will be detoured west on Los Ranchos, then south on Second and east on Osuna before coming back onto Edith.

After Nov. 17, one lane will reopen with flaggers directing traffic. Substantial project completion is expected by Dec. 18, he said.

EXPANDED BUS SERVICE: The New Mexico Department of Transportation and Greyhound agreed to expand bus service to Farmington and Durango, Colorado.

The new service line will run five days a week, one round trip each day, providing access to Navajo Transit and Red Apple Transit in Farmington.

“There are very limited transportation options for individuals that live in these areas of the state,” NMDOT Transit and Rail Division Director Kevin Olinger said in a news release on Oct. 10, “if they don’t have a vehicle, family or friends to transport them for medical appointments or quality of life services.”

Stops along the route include:

• Albuquerque: Greyhound station, 320 First St. SW
• Bernalillo: U.S. 550 Rail Runner Station, 400 Station St.
• Cuba: Phillips 66, 6454 Main St.
• Farmington: Animas Valley Mall, 4601 E. Main St.
• Durango: Durango Transit Center, 250 W. Eighth St., Durango.

To buy tickets, people can visit greyhound.com or flixbus.com.

TRAFFIC FATALITIES: There were 21 traffic fatalities reported across New Mexico in September, according to data from the University of New Mexico and NMDOT.

This marks about a 34% decrease from August, 32.

The county with the most traffic fatalities last month was Bernalillo County with four. Counties with the second highest number were Doña Ana and Otero with three apiece.

UNSER AND PASEO UPDATE: The city of Albuquerque is reminding motorists that work on the biggest road project in its history is getting started.

Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said dirt sampling has begun. Road closures, however, won’t begin until December.

The $62 million project will consist of widening roads to four lanes, installing new medians and lighting, adding 10-foot multi-use trails and 6-foot bicycle lanes with buffers, and improving the intersection and storm systems, according to the city.

In the first phase, work will start on Unser and go from Paradise to about a quarter-mile past Paseo del Norte, which will be widened from Calle Nortena west to about a quarter-mile past Unser, Mayfield said.

Work is expected to take about three years, he said.

For more information and updates, Mayfield said people can visit upgradeunserpaseo.com.

‘GOOD ROADS AND CIVILIZATION’: On Oct. 19, 1910, H. C. Wells, Office of Public Roads superintendent of road construction, said during the North Carolina State Fair that “good roads and civilization go hand in hand.”

“So closely are roads related to the life of the community that they may well be taken as an index of its ethical, financial and industrial condition,” he said.

Do you agree?