Numbers show I-40 safety upgrades are working
HOW NMDOT DECIDED I-40 WAS SAFER: After a recent column explained that the New Mexico Department of Transportation had determined Interstate 40 just east of town no longer required a safety-corridor designation, at least one reader raised a skeptical eyebrow.
Glenn says in an email: “I can’t believe there was any improvement on I-40 at any time. I drive it twice a day to work and back, from Eubank to Rio Grande. I can’t believe what goes on the interstate. There is no law enforcement even though we have three agencies and nobody claims jurisdiction . ... For the every-other-day accident I see on my commute everyone seems to show up.”
Bernadette Bell, public relations officer for NMDOT’s District Three office, explains as background that “the traffic safety corridor on Interstate 40 was located from Milepost 169 — Carnuel area — to 184 — east of Sedillo Hill — and was lifted following the reconstruction projects in the corridor that included safety improvements such as widened shoulders, median concrete wall barrier, the addition of speed designations, signing, the installation of an eastbound and westbound truck climbing lane, and recessed striping, which helps with visibility for snow removal. Finally, an electric game fence, deterrent mats and detection systems were also installed in the area to help reduce vehicle and big-game crash incidents.”
But that wasn’t all. She says, “Additionally, safety improvements have been made to the I-40 corridor between Tramway and the I-25 interchange. The interchanges at Carlisle, San Mateo, Louisiana and Wyoming and Tramway have all undergone reconstruction beginning in 1999. Those improvements included increasing capacity by widening the interstate (i.e. adding lanes), widening shoulders, the addition of new auxiliary lanes (that merge motorists onto and off the interstate with a designated lane for deceleration or acceleration between ramps) and reconstructing deteriorated pavements.
“With each construction project, drainage is addressed to allow for adequate surface water runoff. We’ve built sound walls, concrete wall barrier and guardrail where warranted. Dynamic message signs have also been installed to help inform motorists of accidents, estimated arrival times to key locations and of any unexpected impacts to traffic.”
And the rubber meets the road at the number of accidents. Bell provided statistics on crashes between mile posts 168 and 184, the old safety corridor, that show in 2006, the year after the safety corridor was mandated, there were 116 crashes (six fatal, 31 with injuries). In 2012 that dropped to 56 (19 with injuries and none fatal; in fact, no fatalities in 2010 or 2011, either).
Bell says, “Enhancing mobility and increasing safety are vital to the operation of our roadways. At the NMDOT we are continually observing the roadway conditions in order to accommodate the needs of the traveling public.”
DOES I-40 PUT GOLFERS AT RISK? Dan Mayfield called to express concern about there being no barrier along Interstate 40 at Los Altos Golf Course.
There’s “just a wire fence,” he says. “No protection, not even a curb.” And just east of the course “a semi ran through an apartment.” Dan says he’s worried it’s an accident waiting to happen, like the motorist who went up the berm on Paseo del Norte, killing a cyclist.
Bell says that “during the design process, we evaluate the need for roadside barrier and other safety features. In this area, the barrier was not warranted based on the design guideline criteria that include: traffic volume, design speed, roadside terrain and potential obstructions.”
Editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; or P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103.