Detours expected this week on U.S. 84-285 near Pojoaque

The contractor rebuilding a 12-mile section of U.S. 84-285 between Pojoaque and Santa Fe is shifting both north and southbound traffic onto a temporary detour road and closing the existing two lanes in each direction, according to the state Highway and Transportation Department.

The temporary detour road is between the Conoco-Chevron gas stations and the Pojoaque Open Air Market on U.S. 84-285. The speed limit on the temporary detour road is 35 miles per hour.

Meanwhile, work continues on other sections of the heavily-traveled road. Heavy equipment operators are excavating, staking, demolishing structures on the west side of U.S. 84-285, doing utilities work, and grading areas for what will become a local access road near the southern entrance to Tesuque. An interchange also is planned at that location.

FNF Construction Co. of Tucson, Ariz., is the general contractor for the project. Work is expected to continue through June 2004, weather permitting. Highway department officials estimate the construction cost for the project at about $46 million.

More than 2,000 Laboratory workers who live in Santa Fe County and points south use U.S. 84-285 to get to and from work.

FNF Construction is working from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During these hours, motorists should expect one-lane closures in both directions and greatly reduced speed limits. Both lanes in each direction are open during peak morning and evening commutes, according to Proof Positive, an Albuquerque company handling public information on the project.

Tano Road residents can access U.S. 84-285 through the Santa Fe Relief Route, while residents from Camino Encantado, Circle Drive and Calle Largo can access U.S. 84-285 via Bishops Lodge Road north to Tesuque or by traveling south to Santa Fe, to Paseo de Peralta, to North Guadalupe Street or St. Francis Drive.

Three design engineering firms are working on the design of separate stretches of U.S. 84-285. But work is taking place simultaneously on both ends of the highway.

One section, from the NM 599-U.S. 84-285 interchange north to about the Santa Fe Opera, includes construction of an interchange at County Road 73 and an overpass for local traffic at Tano Road.

On this stretch of the project, two miles of "climbing" lanes for heavy vehicles will be added in each direction on U.S. 84-285 and frontage roads also will be added for local vehicle traffic.

According to the highway department, the contractor will be required to limit construction activity next summer during 2003 Santa Fe Opera performances.

Another section of the project calls for a new bridge over the Rio Tesuque near County Road 73. A temporary traffic signal will be installed at the north exit/entrance to Tesuque and will remain in place while construction of a new interchange at the southern entrance/exit to Tesuque is completed.

The third section of the project stretches for 2.2 miles from the boundary of Tesuque Pueblo north to County Road 89D in Pojoaque. There will be a new four-lane highway, two new interchanges and a frontage road system providing access to all adjacent businesses and residences.

About 40,000 cars a day travel on this section of U.S. 84-285, known informally as the Pojoaque Corridor.

The Laboratory has flexible work hours in place for its work force. The Commuter's Corner of the Daily Newsbulletin publishes van and car pool and ride share information. The Commuter's Corner can be found at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/newsbulletin/rideshare.shtml online.

The State Highway and Transportation Department has established a project office at 810 West San Mateo, Suite 200A in Santa Fe. Information on the project will be available at this office. A World Wide Web page also has been created on the reconstruction project. It can be found at http://www.us84-285.com/index.shtml online.

For more information, call 690-8105 or write to Nmroads@aol.com by electronic mail.

-- Steve Sandoval

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