Road Warrior: What's that construction on Montgomery?

Alaina Mencinger, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Apr. 15—A HAPPY MEDIAN — It's an Albuquerque intersection that's achieved an unheard-of level of Road Warrior notoriety.

"The Lomas, Monte Vista and Carlisle intersection is a dangerous intersection," wrote Jeff Gittelman. "It was made safer when lane striping was present, especially going north on Monte Vista to Lomas and Carlisle. They have faded."

Gittelman said he filed a complaint last summer and heard the area would be evaluated to see if restriping was necessary this year.

Data shows that Gittelman is right — Lomas, Monte Vista and Carlisle is a dangerous intersection. The city's map of high crash and injury areas identified the intersection as having an above average number of severe crashes.

Given that, the city is planning to make updates by adding 11 new medians to the area, which city officials believe will reduce crashes.

As for the striping: typically, the Department of Municipal Development shoots for a 20-year lifespan of roads, said spokesperson Dan Mayfield. Lomas west of Carlisle was rehabbed in 2021, according to Mayfield, and Monte Vista was rehabbed in 2018.

Lomas east of Carlisle and Carlisle north of Lomas were updated a bit longer ago — they were last rehabbed in 2011.

SMOOTH SAILING FOR THE SISTERHOOD? Mary Claire Cobb wants to know the ETA of construction on Montgomery NE from Morris to Eubank.

Cobb, the president of the Alpha Delta Pi Alumni Association, is planning an event at the Savoy restaurant, and is worried about members having to make a U-turn to access the restaurant.

But no fear! The May event should be unaffected.

David Morris, a spokesperson for the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, said the project is a large valve installation at the corner of Montgomery and Morris. It required the closure of the two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of Montgomery to both the east and west of Morris, preventing drivers on Morris from crossing the intersection and limiting them to right-hand turns.

But construction should wrap up soon, Morris said.

"We're hoping to have the work completed by the end of this week," Morris told the Journal on April 10. "But sometimes these things take longer than expected."

It's uncertain whether the project wrapped by my Friday deadline for this column. But Cobb should be able to access the restaurant with ease by May.

"Completion by May is probably a safe bet," Morris said. "Hopefully, long before then."