By Mary Alice Murphy

A meeting of TLC representatives, who are contracted by the state of New Mexico to perform the rehabilitation of Pinos Altos Road, NM 15, from U.S. 180 to 32nd Street, was held with the public Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019.

Greg Meyers, TLC project superintendent, and Joel Miller, assistant superintendent met with residents impacted by the construction project.

"The state had given us a design for Bosworth across the front of the Pet Shop and an apron to the alleyway," Meyers said. "We have done a lot of change orders along the way of the project.

"We expect the project to be substantially complete by the end of May," he said.

To a question about a median northward on Pinos Altos Road from 32nd Street, Meyers said a left turn lane will be put into the road, with a median separating it from northbound traffic.

Because there is not enough roadway to allow two-way traffic on just one side of the road, "we will pave the area, then go back into it and cut out the place for the median." It is likely one of the last items to be done.

TLC expects its paving contractor to be on the job on April 22 to complete the paving of the lane turning right off southbound PA Road north of 32nd Street. Also expected to be paved at that time, is the lane turning right off 32nd Street heading northward on PA Road as well as other paving mentioned later in this article.

"Our intent is to complete 32nd Street toward the end of May," Miller said.

"I just want to say that this has been a great place to work," Meyers said. "People are easy to work with and have been helpful and understanding."

Miller noted that 400 tons of hot mix failed and will have to be redone on the southbound side from Kimberly to R&L Service Center and gas station, and around Pine. So it will have to be removed, because being repaved.

"On April 22, we hope to pave Kimberly to Pine and finish Bosworth as well as the two portions of 32nd Street," Miller said.

A major pipeline installation near R&L will begin April 11. "It will be our last major storm drain project. Then we will do a lot of concrete work around McDonald's. We’re getting close."

They declared that a "big victory" was getting Kimberly paved.

The plan, although traffic will continue to move northward only on the roadway, will be to soon switch over to the southbound side.

To a question about light poles, they said more than 70 light poles will be in place along the one-mile stretch of road, so it will be well lighted.

The next regular meeting with the public would be set for June 12. "Hopefully we will not need the meeting because we will be completed by then," Meyers said. "If all critical path items are complete, we will not hold a meeting."