By Mary Alice Murphy

Editor's Note: Because this author had a conflict with Wednesday evening's bridge meeting, the Beat received information before and after the meeting.

Johnny Macias, project superintendent for the contractor, Interstate Highway Construction, on the replacement New Mexico 90-Hudson Street Bridge, told the Beat Wednesday afternoon that, weather permitting, the company will be placing concrete on the first half of the whole length of the bridge on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

"All the rebar is in," Macias said. "We will pour the first half of the concrete next week. We plan to pour the second half Wednesday, Dec. 9. Between the pours, we will be working on the barrier wall and may get Valley Fence in to do the pedestrian rail."

When asked if the project was going to meet the projected timeline, Macias said: "We are shooting for Dec. 18 or Dec. 24, with perhaps only two lanes open to start with. We will have other work to complete, such as the shoulders after the bridge is open to traffic."

Southwest Concrete and Paving will supply the concrete, and Macias said the IHC might ask them for curb and gutter, and sidewalk, too.

Nancy Cliff, who is working on the restoration project of the San Vicente Creek after the bridge construction is completed, told the Beat the plan includes items estimated by the NM DOT to be completed by March 31, 2016. Tasks include reestablishing the channel of the creek to the dimensions present before the project; compacted soil will be ripped and tilled with organic matter and a custom native grass seed mix applied; kiosk and split rail fence will be reinstalled and boulders will be used to expand the vehicle exclusion area; parking area will be reestablished; gravel base course will be laid and rolled in the parking area; and six parking blocks will be installed to create an organized parking area.

To be completed by April 20, 2016, a coordinated plan with Stream Dynamics to re-vegetate stream banks with cottonwoods and willows, to be planted with the help of community members.

The tentative date for the next and likely final bridge update meeting is 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Grant County Administration Center.