ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A stretch of road along the I-25 interchange known for safety issues, could soon get reconfigured despite pushback from residents. The Department of Transportation is unveiling its plan for changing the stretch of interstate known as the “S-Curve,” which community members pushed to not make any changes.
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“Well, all of these houses are significant. That house down there is probably one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the city,” said Bob Elwood, member of the Huning Highlands Historic District Association.
Elwood is a member of the Huning Highlands Historic District Association, which adjoins I-25. Elwood says the “S-Curve” re-design has residents concerned. For the past year, the New Mexico Department of Transportation has proposed re-designing the I-25 corridor along a stretch they consider to be one of the “biggest transportation safety issues” in Albuquerque. The snaking stretch of interstate runs between Avenida Cesar Chavez and Lomas. According to NMDOT, the “S-Curve” has some of the highest crash rates compared to nearby stretches.
“Our infrastructure is aging, we are upgrading everything around itm so it would just make sense to be able to straighten out that s-curve,” said Kimberly Gallegos, NMDOT spokesperson.
For months, NMDOT has met with community members who have expressed support for keeping the infrastructure the same and instead improving safety through traffic enforcement. On Tuesday, NMDOT announced two options that would build on the east side of the interstate and not affect the neighborhoods.
It’s a step in the right direction, according to neighbors who fought against earlier proposals that would have demolished homes. “I think everybody in this association will be relieved that we’re not going to lose any houses. That the national and state designation of this neighborhood as a historic district is based on the collective value of all the homes. If you start knocking them off all one by one, you’re diminishing the value of the whole neighborhood,” said Elwood.
NMDOT said the two options being presented Tuesday night will hopefully be a compromise for all parties involved. “So, we’re really asking for the public to show up and give their feedback and let us know their opinion on this because we will be deciding between one moving forward with our recommendation so tonight will be important,” said Gallegos.
The public meeting started at five at the Central New Mexico Community College Smith Brasher Hall where NMDOT said they were taking questions from the community about the plans. NMDOT also has a survey online. You have until January 6 to submit comments.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
