Driver wants to know why DOT left ‘terrible bump’ on each side of bridge

BUMPING OVER THE N.M. 502 BRIDGE: Jim Gray asks via email, “Could you please find out for us commuters to Los Alamos on N.M. 502 why the highway department decided to not pave for about 30 feet on each side of the bridge over the Rio Grande?

“They paved right to the bridge over the (Pojoaque) River. Stopping short at the Rio Grande left the same terrible bump and jar to your vehicle going in both directions, either from Los Alamos or to Los Alamos. What was their thinking?”

That the bridge work is coming.

Rosanne Rodriguez, New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District Five quality manager/ public information officer, says, “NMDOT has a bridge construction project at this location that includes tying in the approaches with new asphalt 200 feet both sides of the bridge. The bridge project will start summer of 2018.”

THOSE STRIPES ON I-40

NEED HELP: Michael Emerson emails: “The lane markings on I-40 on 9 Mile Hill were recently repainted. There are several places where cars apparently drove over wet paint and spread the markings into the adjacent lanes. The worst part I saw is on the on ramp to eastbound I-40 at Atrisco Vista. Question: Shouldn’t the state or contractor be required to come back and fix these mistakes?” Yes. Kimberly Gallegos with NMDOT’s District Three says, “The contractor did return and address and correct the lane markings.”

CAN SOMEBODY STOP THE

ROAD RACING? Jonathan Stein asks in an email, “Can something be done about the frequent night time road racing/ speeding on long stretches of Coors north of St. Joseph? It seems numerous cars, trucks and motorcycles fly along Coors, especially weekend nights. It is very noisy and often dangerous to drive on Coors after dark, with reckless drivers zipping by in and out of traffic. I rarely see these speeders stopped by police.

“I understand that APD has a lot on its plate, but an occasional nightly sweep of Coors (and) ticketing the speeders might improve this dangerous driving scene.”

Albuquerque Police Department officer Tanner Tixier says this is the type of issue residents should report to their area command. In this case, “reach out to the Northwest substation across from Cibola High School.”

FYI, the six area command numbers are:

Foothills Area Command, 332-5240

Northeast Area Command, 823-4455

Southeast Area Command, 256-2050

Valley Area Command, 761-8800

Southwest Area Command, 831-4705

Northwest Area Command, 768-4850

AND ABOUT THOSE TRASH

BINS IN THE ROAD: After last week’s column explained city ordinance says residents can put their bins at the curb no more than 12 hours before pickup and must pull them back no more than 24 hours after, Ruben Mirabal emailed a concern.

“The only part of city ordinance governing trash bins that the homeowner has any control over is returning the bins to his/her yard after pickup. Given that trash pick-up in my community can occur any time between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., most people in my community put their garbage bins out the eve before pick-up day so that they won’t miss an early pick-up. However, when trash pick-up occurs around 4 p.m., the bins put out the night before likely have been on the curb more than 20-plus hours.

“It seems more practical, and logical, that city ordinance ought to be reversed, i.e. bins are put at the curb no more than 24 hours before pick-up, and returned to the owner’s property within 12 hours of pick-up. The net result would be the same in terms of time but would allow a greater degree of homeowner compliance due to the inconsistency of the pick-up schedule.”