By Mary Alice Murphy

At Wednesday evening's monthly meeting on the New Mexico 90-Hudson Street Bridge project, Brian Torres, New Mexico Department of Transportation project manager, said on Monday, May 18, crews will begin taking down the asbestos-covered water line. The process should take three to four days. Friday, May 22, demolition of the bridge deck will begin. That should take about 10 days.

"It will take 40 days to take down the whole bridge," Torres said. "June 1, we will put in the drill shaft."

To a question about the 210-day project timeline and when it would start, Torres said: "As soon as the bridge closes to traffic, the clock starts, and we will be working seven days a week. We are shooting for a December re-opening of the bridge."

During the removal of the water line, which is on the east side of the bridge, travelers can expect a one-lane closure on that side on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"For residents who want to take photos of the action, the Hudson Street Plaza is the place from which they should plan to take photos," Torres said.

An audience member asked if there would be a turning lane at 180, turning left onto the Truck Bypass Road.

"No, there will be no turning lane," Torres said. "But for traffic coming from Cliff down the hill, we are dropping the speed limit to 45 miles per hour."

Kevin Cook of Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. said the company is working on having its heavy equipment completely avoid the area. "Heavy equipment going to Tyrone will continue to come through Lordsburg, but heavy equipment going to Chino will be re-routed through Deming."

"We appreciate that," Torres said.

John Crow said he witnessed the lowboy truck test, and the portion of turning left off 180 onto the Bypass Road did not take place.

Johnny Macias, project superintendent, said: "People will have to be careful."

A female audience member said she believes the concern of most people is the amount of traffic going onto the highway and onto Bypass Road. "Just a pullout to avoid accidents if people are trying to turn onto the highway would be helpful."

Torres said there was nothing the department could do to prevent someone from turning in front of someone else.

Tony Prewit, area resident, said the issue was to have a turnout, so that the flow of traffic would not bottleneck. "We're not the experts, but there is no other reason other than cost that makes sense to us that you are not putting in the turnout lane. I think y'all would do it if you had the authority, There's got to be a better answer than wait and see."

Torres said traffic studies were done, but they didn't warrant buying rights of way for a turnout lane. "A turning lane is not on the table."

A male audience member pointed out that the bottleneck would occur with people going to work and coming home from work.

"We are being proactive by dropping the speed limit," Torres said.

The same male said he would think the department would have law enforcement there managing traffic.

"Realistically, there was no other way to route around the bridge," Torres said.

Terri Gatton said: "Let's pretend the schedule is being met and the unthinkable happens with accidents. What plans do you have? What is the magic number of accidents before there is a change?"

"We truly don't want any accidents," Torres said. "We want safe travel during the whole construction time. But you always have the human element."

Prewit said at 180, people would be passing on the shoulder to get past traffic and travel toward Cliff. "Because there is no turning lane, it will cause people to be defensive."

"We hear you, but nothing is going to be done," Torres said. "We hope we can get law enforcement there. We will be monitoring the situation."

Crow said he thought law enforcement would be there, but "I don't know if you can turn a truck left onto Truck Bypass without wiping out a car that is sitting at the stop sign. Because you didn't complete the test."

Torres said a stop bar could be put farther back, but Crow protested that drivers could not see oncoming traffic from behind a stop bar.

Torres said additional signage would be placed at Cooper and Ridge roads. "We are partnering with the city."

Macias said the department would be looking at traffic and "if we need adjustments, we'll make them."

Cook asked if the downhill stretch of 180 coming into town toward Alabama Street had been taken into account.

"I don't know," Torres said. "I'll talk to the traffic engineer."

A male pointed out that with no right-of-way at the intersection, nothing could be done.

Another male agreed that people would find a way around situations. "You'll find lots of streets being used."

Rodger Koest, working with the contractor Interstate Highway Construction, said: "This is not DOT's first rodeo. They understand that."

Torres said, with so many different scenarios, "we try to make it as safe for the traveling public as possible."

The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, likely at the County Business and Conference Center.