By Mary Alice Murphy

Two members of the contracting company, TLC, Project Superintendent Greg Meyers and Assistant Superintendent Joel Miller joined New Mexico Department of Transportation Project Manager José Martinez and Joseph Garcia, in presenting an update on the extensive rebuilding of a mile of Pinos Altos Road, also known as New Mexico 15. The portion under reconstruction stretches from U.S. Highway 180 to 32nd Street.

Meyers talked about the ongoing construction at the intersection of P.A. Road and 32nd Street. The footprint of the roads will cover a much larger portion of land than previously.

"We will have designated left-turning lanes on P.A. Road," Meyers said. "Stop signs will continue to be at the intersection. For those turning right onto P.A. Road from westbound 32nd Street or from eastbound 32nd onto P.A. Road will have merging lanes to facilitate the flow of traffic."

He also noted that there would be medians on P.A. Road south of and north of 32nd Street. They will stretch about 300 feet from the intersection.

On the southern end of the project by R&L Gas Station and McDonald's, Meyers said there would be no sidewalk, curb and gutter on the R&L side until about Kimberly Street. But sidewalks, curb and gutter would be on the east side, the McDonald's side all the way to 32nd.

Meyers also said that R&L and Peck's would continue to have a concrete pad connecting to the roadway.

To an audience question about when Kimberly would be paved, Miller said the weather "has put a damper on our schedule. With the weather expected tomorrow night and over several days next week, we think it will be the last part of February before we can pave." Meyers noted that Kimberly would only be paved, without sidewalk or curb and gutter.

Miller said the entry onto Bosworth is ready for paving. "On the southern portion of P.A. Road, we want to get off the northbound lane, so we can finish work beside McDonald's. We have to at the end of the project, put the final paving lift on the whole road. We will still have one-way traffic in the meantime, it will just be northward on the southbound side, as it is north of Pine."

A woman asked how much more the crews were going to cut into the slope across from Peck's. Miller said once Bosworth is paved, it's done. "We will have paving up to the restaurant (Mi Casita)."

A man asked if there would be a guard rail by 32nd Street, where they are expanding the footprint.

Miller said once the sidewalk, curb and gutter are in, the property will be protected by them. He also noted there would be riprap protection of slopes. "Both sides of 32nd Street, north and south, will have riprap." They have had to extend and expand the storm drains at that intersection.

To a question about mailboxes, Meyers said every property with an existing mailbox would get new mailboxes close to the sidewalks. Some may be one mailbox or two, three or four in one spot.

Miller said all slopes are at a 3-1 or 4-1 slope ratio. Those not riprapped would be seeded.

A man asked if driveways would be paved. Meyers said base course is what will remain, except for those which had previously been paved. He didn't remember one particular driveway, but a check on Google Earth showed that it had had asphalt, so it would be returned to asphalt.

A woman said her driveway was cement and asked if it would be again. Martinez said it all depended on what had been agreed during the preliminary stages of design when the DOT contacted each property owner.

Miller explained that paving could be done only if the temperature were at least 45 degrees and rising. Meyers said if it was 45 with a wind chill, paving could not take place. "But if it's 53 with a wind chill, it can take place."

"We still have a lot of major work to do on the storm drain on the northbound side of R&L and McDonald's," Miller said.

When asked about the completion date, Miller said they had hoped for mid-May, but the crews have already lost two weeks of work and another week lost would put it into early June. "It's up to the weather."

To a question about lighting, Miller said: "All of a sudden you will see the poles going up quickly." He also noted they had saved a historic road marker. "We had to move it slightly because it was in the way of the ADA ramp, but it's still there."

One of the residents off Kimberly said she wanted to commend TLC. "We go in and out and they are really nice guys."

Another attendee said the men working are "the best construction crew I've ever worked with."

"We expect that of our crews," Miller said. "We want to be different and better."

Meyers also noted that new fences would go where former fences had to be removed.

He said the footprint at 32nd Street would include 24 feet plus of lanes from each direction. "It will be much nicer."

The next update meeting is set for Wednesday, April 10, at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center, where each meeting has been held.