In
order for District Two to better meet the States economic
development and safety goals
a renovation of the US 70 roadway was in need. Statistics
compiled by the NMDOT show this portion of US 70 has an accident
rate of approximately 1.22 accidents per million vehicle
miles (MVM), a rate that is almost twice the statewide average.
Existing highway conditions that contributed to accidents
that occurred in this area included the number and frequency
of driveways and roadways that intersect with the highway,
the lack of passing lanes and turning lanes and inadequate
sight distance due to the curvilinear alignment of the highway.
District Two, with this data in mind, went to work to get
US 70 up to the State’s standards and make it safer
for those who drive on the roadway.
The project consisted of pavement reconstruction, permanent
signing and striping along the roadway, and widening and
rehabilitation of the roadway. To improve sight distance
on the roadway alignment improvements were put into place.
Bridges along the US 70 Hondo Valley Project were also improved
on and some widened to better fit the traffic in the area.
To conserve the natural environment around the roadway many
developments such as drainage and ditch improvements and
realignments, slope stabilization and tree replacement were
all utilized. The project also included access consolidation
at specific locations and the construction of local access
or frontage roads and turning lanes to improve problem areas. |
