Wilson & Company provided design and construction management for 1.2 miles of new roadway that reconstructed the 4-lane divided highway. The improvements included a new multi-use trail, bike lanes, sidewalks, a new storm drain system, new signals, and an interconnect system. The project included Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Process for Local Lead Projects amounting to $14.4 million.

The purpose of the study phase of this project was to analyze existing conditions, develop alternatives for improvements along the corridor, and identify a recommended alternative by evaluating each in its ability to achieve the purpose and need of the project. The suggested alternatives were taken into the environmental documentation phase.

NMDOT’s location study process incorporates the legislative requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the need for states to have procedures for carrying out a public involvement program. The location study process includes three phases leading to the project’s preliminary and final design stages. Phase A provides an initial evaluation of existing conditions and project alternatives. Phase B provides a detailed review of other options selected to advance from Phase A. These first two phases served the need to develop, evaluate, and refine the possible alternatives to achieve the need for action.

As part of this study, the existing conditions within the study area were identified, reviewed, and assessed. The objective was to identify the roadway’s existing physical and operational conditions to determine factors that may affect the need for potential improvements and to identify critical environmental, cultural, and community conditions that may warrant consideration as the alternatives are evaluated.