By Mary Alice Murphy

Brian Torres, New Mexico Department of Transportation project manager, and Brian Pollock, Interstate Highway Construction project manager, gave a brief overview of the progress on the New Mexico 90-Hudson Street Bridge replacement project.

To a question from the Beat, Pollock explained that as much as possible of the material from the bridge demolition is being repurposed. He said the girders are being turned into walls, the smaller rubble is used as fill, and the rebar is recycled.

Shaft drilling began this week, and two shafts are in place. "If we do one a day, we are where we want to be," Pollock said. "If we get two a day done, we are gaining ground."

"The old bridge is gone," he said. "We have started drilling shafts for the abutments. We should begin to form columns and stand them next week. The substructure is poured in place and allowed to cure."

He said there would be a total of 18 shafts/columns. Workers work only Monday through Friday, beginning at 7 a.m. and finishing anywhere from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 or 6:30, depending on when a task is complete. He explained because the demolition took place through the weekends that the workers had last weekend and would have the coming weekend off also.

Torres said the work is progressing at a steady pace, with drilling for the piers and abutments on each side of the bridge having begun.

To another question, Torres said no accidents have been reported to them. "No problems, just a few complaints, but many fewer now."

Connie Glenn, who works at Workforce Solutions on Broadway, said she has noticed only a slight increase in traffic on Broadway.

Torres said Capt. Hernandez of the Silver City Police Department was looking into complaints of 18-wheelers going onto small city streets. He said the town was looking into an ordinance to stop the larger commercial vehicles.

"We have also added some speed limit signs," Torres said.

To a question from the audience about monsoon rains slowing progress down, he said the only pier to be of concern would be No. 4. "But by monsoon time, we will be spending less time on the bottom and should be mostly on the girders by then."

Kevin Cook of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. said he had heard complaints from employees living on Daniel Street that commercial vehicles had come onto the narrow street and had difficulties navigating.

"We are addressing that," Torres said. "We want to add a message board that says 'Detour 2 ½ miles ahead. We are in close contact with the Sheriff's Office and the Silver City Police Department. It should be doable within a week to put a sign or message board on NM 90 for the detour onto Truck Bypass Road."

Cook said another problem for truckers is that many use GPS systems and they are not updating their systems and so they get erroneous information.

To a complaint from a resident about the viewing area being blocked, Torres said he would look at the issue. He also said he was pleased to get through the Blues Festival with no incidents.

Pollock said the target date for the reopening of the bridge was Dec. 18.

The next scheduled informational meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Business and Conference Center.