Double fine zones in effect on U.S. 84-285

Lead footers beware. Local law enforcement agencies are stepping up patrols on a 12-mile stretch of U.S. 84-285 between Santa Fe and Pojoaque currently under construction.

And motorists will have to pay a double fine if caught exceeding posted speed limits in the construction area.

Meanwhile, rebuilding U.S. 84-285 in the area informally known as the Pojoaque Corridor continues to progress with work ongoing in several areas.

Mary Ann Hatchitt of Proof Positive, an Albuquerque public relations firm handling communications for the state Highway and Transportation Department, said the double fine zones were instituted recently by new highway department cabinet secretary-designate Rhonda Faught. She said double fine zone signs have been posted in work areas and also urged motorists to observe posted speed limits.

Speed limits are reduced to 45 miles per hour in the construction areas and 35 miles per hours through median detours.

The contractor rebuilding U.S. 84-285 between Pojoaque and Santa Fe shifted both north and southbound traffic onto a temporary detour road and closed the existing two lanes in each direction between the Conoco-Chevron gas stations and the Pojoaque Open Air Market on U.S. 84-285.

In other areas 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. Grading for an interchange and frontage roads in the Cuyamungue area also has begun.

Hatchitt said motorists should be alert for heavy equipment trucks periodically turning onto and off of U.S. 84-285 in the construction area.

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 and on some Saturdays. During these hours, motorists should expect one-lane closures in both directions and greatly reduced speed limits. Crews should have both lanes of traffic in each direction open during peak morning and evening commutes, according to Proof Positive.

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 on southbound 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 this 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 between Santa Fe and Pojoaque, according to the highway department.

The Laboratory has flexible work hours in place for its work force. The Commuter's Corner publishes van and car pool and ride share information. The Commuter's Corner can be found in the Daily Newsbulletin 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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