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New Mexico

Started by sandiaman, April 18, 2009, 02:42:07 PM

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Plutonic Panda

I rather like the overhead structure. It's unique and to me signifies when you've truly entered the west. I could OKC is the crossroads where a western landscape(minus the mountains of course) starts to begin with the grasslands slowly turning into desert the further west you go but whenever I see that New Mexico sign I get excited. Then right to the southwest you can see the huge plateau(the name eludes me).


kphoger

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 05, 2023, 05:11:49 PM
I rather like the overhead structure. It's unique and to me signifies when you've truly entered the west.

They're so common in Mexico, that I've never considered their being uncommon here in the US.

Entering:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3pPKseXipzRCyU72A — "Welcome to Coahuila"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eBe5VsPh9a1XJndX7 — "Welcome / San Luis Potosí / Fascinating for its nature"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SNcLYn1RuJvwYX1N7 — "Welcome to Zacatecas"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QxwoAyG3Ud8NZSyy8 — "Welcome to Tabasco / Happy stay"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o6qgLEQH3zQShXuh7 — "Welcome to Colima / State government of Colima"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5vV36JixE59iQaBy9 — "Welcome to the state of Oaxaca"

Leaving:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/S3HCvBNkDLu1M2LF8 — "Querétaro wishes you a happy trip"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jQLNyCEoHJBGbTXJ7 — "Happy trip / End Nayarit"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yKfsUwierQT8xzQeA — "Happy trip / Baja California Sur"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ls9S4G4qPjBBQxecA — "Good trip / Come back soon" (Quintana Roo)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uciW9cydLUsyS1L8A — "The state of Colima appreciates your visit"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jwq6TNWYSZ9TcNVY7 — "San Luis Potosí / It has what you like / We want you here"
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Bobby5280

Those overhead sign structures in Mexico look cheap and utilitarian. The roads look pretty bad too. The overhead Welcome signs on the NM/TX border at I-40 and I-10 are far more decorative and expensive looking.

Plutonic Panda

Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2023, 11:30:25 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 05, 2023, 05:11:49 PM
I rather like the overhead structure. It's unique and to me signifies when you've truly entered the west.

They're so common in Mexico, that I've never considered their being uncommon here in the US.

Entering:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3pPKseXipzRCyU72A — "Welcome to Coahuila"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eBe5VsPh9a1XJndX7 — "Welcome / San Luis Potosí / Fascinating for its nature"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SNcLYn1RuJvwYX1N7 — "Welcome to Zacatecas"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QxwoAyG3Ud8NZSyy8 — "Welcome to Tabasco / Happy stay"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o6qgLEQH3zQShXuh7 — "Welcome to Colima / State government of Colima"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5vV36JixE59iQaBy9 — "Welcome to the state of Oaxaca"

Leaving:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/S3HCvBNkDLu1M2LF8 — "Querétaro wishes you a happy trip"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jQLNyCEoHJBGbTXJ7 — "Happy trip / End Nayarit"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yKfsUwierQT8xzQeA — "Happy trip / Baja California Sur"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ls9S4G4qPjBBQxecA — "Good trip / Come back soon" (Quintana Roo)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uciW9cydLUsyS1L8A — "The state of Colima appreciates your visit"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jwq6TNWYSZ9TcNVY7 — "San Luis Potosí / It has what you like / We want you here"
I don't know New Mexico that well apart from interstates. I've been on every interstate in NW with the exception of of I-25 between ABQ and Santa Fe(I still haven't been there) but those are some ugly looking signs. I still love the I-40 sign.

abqtraveler

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 05, 2023, 05:11:49 PM
I rather like the overhead structure. It's unique and to me signifies when you've truly entered the west. I could OKC is the crossroads where a western landscape(minus the mountains of course) starts to begin with the grasslands slowly turning into desert the further west you go but whenever I see that New Mexico sign I get excited. Then right to the southwest you can see the huge plateau(the name eludes me).
That's the Caprock Escarpment. It defines the northern edge of the Llano Estacado that makes up the landscape most of the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

Plutonic Panda

Quote from: abqtraveler on November 06, 2023, 09:24:29 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 05, 2023, 05:11:49 PM
I rather like the overhead structure. It's unique and to me signifies when you've truly entered the west. I could OKC is the crossroads where a western landscape(minus the mountains of course) starts to begin with the grasslands slowly turning into desert the further west you go but whenever I see that New Mexico sign I get excited. Then right to the southwest you can see the huge plateau(the name eludes me).
That's the Caprock Escarpment. It defines the northern edge of the Llano Estacado that makes up the landscape most of the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico.
Thank you for the that. There's a rest area when it's open I go in and walk around for about 20 minutes and always read the stuff they have and observe the paintings. I stand and look towards the southwest and feel a wave a bliss.

Plutonic Panda

I was surprised to read this. There are discussions about widening I-40 to six lanes each way from ABQ to the AS state line. I personally haven't seen the need for that entire stretch to be six lanes but I wouldn't complain if it were either but at 4.8 billion dollars(if built today) I'd think there are better uses of that money around the state currently.

I-40 from ABQ to Laguna definitely needs a six lane treatment. Some of the western four lane segments just need to be reconstructed(preferably with concrete).

NMDOT recommends spotty six lane widenings where needed and reconstruction otherwise. Amazingly I am here to say I agree with NMDOT. That said some legislators think otherwise.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/new-study-of-i-40-between-arizona-and-albuquerque-details-major-issues/

JREwing78

I'm moderately impressed at the 20,000 vpd (vehicles per day) at the Arizona state line, rising to about 30,000 vpd near Laguna, and about 34,000 on the western ABQ outskirts. I-40 apparently is a fairly heavily trafficked route. East of the Mississippi, however, that kind of traffic barely gets on anyone's radar. Michigan has 4 lane freeways running AADTs of 60,000 and 70,000 vpd, for example, with 10,000-15,000 of those commercial trucks.

If I was charged with New Mexico's transportation budget, I would certainly reserve ROW for 6-laning when they need to rebuild (and 8-laning closer to ABQ). If they haven't added a third lane on uphill grades, certainly that's in order. Yes, resolve the ramp length and curve deficiencies as the road is rebuilt. But those traffic levels don't scream a need for 6 lanes.

Some of those folks need a ride down I-94 in southern Michigan to re-calibrate their notion of what heavy traffic looks like.

abqtraveler

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 14, 2023, 07:22:27 PM

I-40 from ABQ to Laguna definitely needs a six lane treatment. Some of the western four lane segments just need to be reconstructed(preferably with concrete).

If they decide to pave any stretch of I-40 with concrete, they need to use low-alkali cement, as the failure of the current roadway that was originally paved with concrete and overlaid with asphalt, was largely due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) that shortened the life of the concrete to less than 20 years in some places.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

US 89

I would like to see a lot of road projects in New Mexico get funded before a six-lane of I-40 from Arizona to Albuquerque. Plenty of rural corridors could do with an upgrade from 2 to 4 lanes - in particular, US 84 and 60 from Santa Rosa to the Texas line immediately comes to mind, as does US 285 from Clines Corners to near Santa Fe.

Plutonic Panda

Quote from: US 89 on November 14, 2023, 11:18:38 PM
I would like to see a lot of road projects in New Mexico get funded before a six-lane of I-40 from Arizona to Albuquerque. Plenty of rural corridors could do with an upgrade from 2 to 4 lanes - in particular, US 84 and 60 from Santa Rosa to the Texas line immediately comes to mind, as does US 285 from Clines Corners to near Santa Fe.
I can't believe they'd prioritize this over widening I-40 to six lanes from ABQ to Moriarty. I drive I-40 from LA to OKC multiple times a year and while there are some stretches that need it six laned this is one that needs it the most. ABQ to Laguna makes sense as well.

DJStephens

#136
Quote from: US 89 on November 14, 2023, 11:18:38 PM
I would like to see a lot of road projects in New Mexico get funded before a six-lane of I-40 from Arizona to Albuquerque. Plenty of rural corridors could do with an upgrade from 2 to 4 lanes - in particular, US 84 and 60 from Santa Rosa to the Texas line immediately comes to mind, as does US 285 from Clines Corners to near Santa Fe.
Am of belief a complete six laning of 40 W of Albuquerque environs is simply not necessary.  Some climbing lanes in places - sure.  Just make sure they are built to the Outside and no lane shifting is done.  A tall order here.   
    US - 285 between I-25 and 40 should have been four laned decades ago.  Believe plans were on the books.  As a rural expressway, with access maintained, 60 to 88 foot grassed median.   Suspect NIMBYists (W coast imports) already living in area deep sixed those plans.   
    Frankly don't support any additional four lane jobs, until standards are restored.   A major focus of the Gary Johnson administration was to perform cheap four lane "jobbies" statewide.  Most were of low standards and could have been much better.  Most featured either flush or minimal median separation of opposing lanes of traffic.  Blame Johnson, Pete Rahn, and "practical design" for that.  Scores have died in cross over wrecks that were frankly avoidable if proper design had been employed.  Yes speed, alcohol, and inattention were major factors.  But absolutely no margin of error exists with a flush median.   No more flush medians.    View the most recent one, "NM 404" for the most recent example.   There are center barrier walls in places, mountable curbing in others, but the fact is that the end result will be, and is a poor product.   

thenetwork

At least for what I see in Northwest NM, they will spend boku time and money to rebuild and/or widen roads, but never do preventative maintenance on them to keep them in good shape for more than a decade.

About a 5 mile stretch of US-550 north of Azrec has been under construction for nearly 6 months.  They did add some curbing, but overall it has taken them forever to mill and resurface this stretch with little to no other improvements (sign/light/culvertt replacements).

Meanwhile I have seen 10-15 mile stretches of roadway in Colorado and Utah get practically the same improvements in under 2 months this summer.  And slightly shorter stretches of roadway in NM with a quick milling and resurfacing in less than 2 weeks!

They should spend that "widening" money on preservation and upkeep of the roads they already have -- and keep construction activity ACTIVE where you see people working in zones more days than not.

abqtraveler

Quote from: thenetwork on November 16, 2023, 09:33:42 PM
At least for what I see in Northwest NM, they will spend boku time and money to rebuild and/or widen roads, but never do preventative maintenance on them to keep them in good shape for more than a decade.

About a 5 mile stretch of US-550 north of Azrec has been under construction for nearly 6 months.  They did add some curbing, but overall it has taken them forever to mill and resurface this stretch with little to no other improvements (sign/light/culvertt replacements).

Meanwhile I have seen 10-15 mile stretches of roadway in Colorado and Utah get practically the same improvements in under 2 months this summer.  And slightly shorter stretches of roadway in NM with a quick milling and resurfacing in less than 2 weeks!

They should spend that "widening" money on preservation and upkeep of the roads they already have -- and keep construction activity ACTIVE where you see people working in zones more days than not.
While preventative maintenance is important to extend the amount of time between major overhauls of highways and bridges, NMDOT has been notorious in recent years of doing a half-assed job on both.

For starters, there's the reconstruction of US-54 between Carrizozo and Tularosa that took place from 2010 to 2013. In addition to not using that opportunity to widen 54 to 4 lanes, the pavement lasted less than 10 years before it completely failed and had to be reconstructed again.

Here in Albuquerque, they are reconstructing the intersection of Wyoming Blvd and Menaul Blvd. Currently the intersection itself is paved with concrete, but driving through there yesterday, they are paving the reconstructed lanes with asphalt.  So I expect they'll be back out here within 5 to 10 years ripping up the intersection yet again and laying down new pavement because the asphalt will be completely rutted and potholed by then. What really irks me though is they're taking out Victor Circle, which used to offer motorists a "free right" from eastbound Menaul to southbound Wyoming. After the project is finished, traffic will no longer be able to bypass the light to go from eastbound Menaul to southbound Wyoming.

Just more examples of doing things that make no sense.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201



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