Road Warrior: Why can't the roads be striped during the winter? And when will Montaño be paved to the bridge?

(RE)PAVE PARADISE: It’s been 15 years since Montaño Road was fully paved from Fourth to Unser. Although an approximately mile-long stretch was repaved a few years ago, the remaining distance to the bridge hasn’t. Bob Wampler wants to know when that might change.

Good news. According to the Department of Municipal Development, this time next year the road should be freshly paved. Montaño is scheduled to be repaved next summer from Guadalupe Trail west to the Rio Grande.

SEASON OF THE STRIPE: The time for Albuquerque to earn its stripes is all but done — at least on the road. City staff is quickly working to wrap up all road striping projects, for perhaps a surprising reason.

There’s a season for road striping, Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield explains. When the nights get too cold, the stripe — which is halfway between reflective tape and paint — won’t adhere to the street.

So, as the temperatures drop, road striping projects also drop off and won’t resume until next spring.

SPEAKING OF STRIPES … One of those striping projects includes a portion of Central Avenue. The stretch that runs through Downtown from Eighth to First recently received a three-month makeover, which included repaving and restriping.

The project, which cost approximately $385,000, adds new loading zone areas, a parking buffer and left turn lanes in the area.

“The new stripes will help people park, help trucks unload, and make it easier to turn left,” said Albuquerque’s Department of Municipal Development director Patrick Montoya in a statement. “The new pavement helps our city’s most famous road shine and should last for decades.”

THE TICKET IS WORSE THAN THE CLIMB: After seeing an uptick in crashes, aggressive and distracted drivers and more in the Interstate 25 construction zone at La Bajada, drivers can expect to see more officers patrolling the area.

That’s what New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Friday in announcing the move, explaining that while State Police has worked with the state Department of Transportation since the slope mitigation and repair work began last year, “It has become evident in recent months that our strategy needs to evolve.”

Aside from speeders and aggressive/distracted drivers, patrolpersons will be on the lookout for those following too closely or any other “dangerous” behavior.