New Mexico

[Max Rockatansky]

Part of the problem is that NMDOT basically maintains almost every moderately significant road in the state.  In most states much of the inventory NMDOT holds would be the responsibility of more local jurisdictions.

[kphoger]

Part of the problem is that NMDOT basically maintains almost every moderately significant road in the state.  In most states much of the inventory NMDOT holds would be the responsibility of more local jurisdictions.

Most states, yes.  They'd be secondary state routes in Texas or Missouri.  If Missouri, then they'd be narrow and only slightly better-paved than in New Mexico.  If Texas, then they'd have paved shoulders and a 70 mph speed limit.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

One problem is New Mexico isn't a state where people are exactly flush with cash, so between a lower-income tax base and federal cuts there are no good choices to be made when it comes to increasing road funding.

[DJStephens]

Yet money is found, for ridiculous "projects" such as the Central Ave ART/BRT, rock landscaping at interchanges, and recent roundabouts in Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs).  Meanwhile pavements statewide are crumbling, often with pieces of asphalt popping up and out of the pavement.   The longer they wait, a simple "mill and fill" can become necessitating a complete reconstruction to include subgrade and basecourse.   A truly broken agency. 

[thenetwork]

Yet money is found, for ridiculous "projects" such as the Central Ave ART/BRT, rock landscaping at interchanges, and recent roundabouts in Truth or Consequences (Hot Springs).  Meanwhile pavements statewide are crumbling, often with pieces of asphalt popping up and out of the pavement.   The longer they wait, a simple "mill and fill" can become necessitating a complete reconstruction to include subgrade and basecourse.   A truly broken agency. 

I often questioned why the necessity to widen US 64 to a fancy 6 lane boulevard between Bloomfield and Farmington.  Not to mention on how "sign happy" they are on newer projects and even on older state and US highways.  A great example is how NDOT likes to sign darn near every county maintained/non-maintained road intersection as if it was a significant numbered-route junction at a town's crossroads.  Definitely wasteful on the wrong aspects of a NDOT highway.

[abqtraveler]

Timelapse video of my drive on I-40 and NM-400 from Albuquerque to McGaffey, NM on July 25, 2025. Enjoy!

[brad2971]

One problem is New Mexico isn't a state where people are exactly flush with cash, so between a lower-income tax base and federal cuts there are no good choices to be made when it comes to increasing road funding.

I presume you've heard that NM produces upwards of 2 million barrels of oil per day down in Lea and Eddy counties.

[Plutonic Panda]

NMDOT is requesting $487 million to help with its budget:

https://www.dot.nm.gov/blog/2025/12/10/nmdot-seeks-487-million-to-address-transportation-funding-gap/

[The High Plains Traveler]

Part of the problem is that NMDOT basically maintains almost every moderately significant road in the state.  In most states much of the inventory NMDOT holds would be the responsibility of more local jurisdictions.

Outside major cities, this is true. Within the largest cities, though, NMDOT has been working to relinquish many routes it formerly maintained. As an example, NM-14 along Cerrillos Road has mostly been relinquished to the city of Santa Fe north of I-25. I found an agreement from the late 1980s for NMDOT to relinquish most routes in the city in exchange for building the Santa Fe Relief Route, NM-599. Similarly, most state highways in the core of Albuquerque have been relinquished.

[abqtraveler]

Similarly, most state highways in the core of Albuquerque have been relinquished.

And the City of Albuquerque has done a piss-poor job of maintaining the roads it inherited from NMDOT over the years, let alone all of the other city streets that were never under state ownership. The city's motive is to do a half-assed job of resurfacing on the cheap, only to be back in 5 to 10 years because the pavement has completely failed with rutted lanes and potholes that could swallow a truck. On top of that, the city's Water Authority will completely tear up a newly resurfaced stretch of road to repair one of their mains and not properly fix the road they dug up when they're done.

[Plutonic Panda]

I guess this is better than nothing. If there is a backlog of $7.5 billion in projects why not just sign a bill that eliminates the entire backlog make it a model for the whole country.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/governor-of-nm-signs-15b-road-bonding-package/70463

[Rothman]

I guess this is better than nothing. If there is a backlog of $7.5 billion in projects why not just sign a bill that eliminates the entire backlog make it a model for the whole country.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/governor-of-nm-signs-15b-road-bonding-package/70463

Because states have stricter fiscal constraints than the federal government.  Seems to me that if the President or Congress can snap their fingers and make billions appear for whatever fleeting issue of the day, they could do so for transportation as well.  Probably even within their parameters they couldn't fund the entire country's backlog, but they could do more.

[Plutonic Panda]

I guess this is better than nothing. If there is a backlog of $7.5 billion in projects why not just sign a bill that eliminates the entire backlog make it a model for the whole country.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/governor-of-nm-signs-15b-road-bonding-package/70463

Because states have stricter fiscal constraints than the federal government.  Seems to me that if the President or Congress can snap their fingers and make billions appear for whatever fleeting issue of the day, they could do so for transportation as well.  Probably even within their parameters they couldn't fund the entire country's backlog, but they could do more.

No, I understand that it's just frustrating to see that having backlog is essentially become completely acceptable because of course there's budget constraints. And I'm not even talking about expansion needs. I'm referring just to basic maintenance and modernization implement modern safety features.

[abqtraveler]

I guess this is better than nothing. If there is a backlog of $7.5 billion in projects why not just sign a bill that eliminates the entire backlog make it a model for the whole country.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/governor-of-nm-signs-15b-road-bonding-package/70463

Because states have stricter fiscal constraints than the federal government.  Seems to me that if the President or Congress can snap their fingers and make billions appear for whatever fleeting issue of the day, they could do so for transportation as well.  Probably even within their parameters they couldn't fund the entire country's backlog, but they could do more.

No, I understand that it's just frustrating to see that having backlog is essentially become completely acceptable because of course there's budget constraints. And I'm not even talking about expansion needs. I'm referring just to basic maintenance and modernization implement modern safety features.

New Mexico also ranks as the #3 lowest fuel tax in the country at 19 cents per gallon, which hasn't been raised in over 30 years. Bills have been introduced in recent legislative cycles to increase the gas tax, with some proposals to replace the fixed tax with a tax that is a percentage of the fuel price. None of those proposals ever got a committee hearing, which is indicative of state lawmakers lack of appetite to raise new revenue to restore New Mexico's roads to an acceptable state of repair.

[DJStephens]

Interesting, recently wrote a letter to a state senator from the "T or C" region, questioning the recent spending in "T or C" and was it really necessary.   Not enough money, and what little there is, is spent on decorations and cluttered signage.   

[Plutonic Panda]

NM101/University Ave project is kicking off in Las Cruces. With a price tag of about 20 million not sure what they're planning but this press release says multimodal improvements:

https://www.dot.nm.gov/blog/2026/05/26/public-is-invited-to-a-ribbon-cutting-for-the-nm-101-university-avenue-improvement-project/

[newyooper]

NM101/University Ave project is kicking off in Las Cruces. With a price tag of about 20 million not sure what they're planning but this press release says multimodal improvements:

https://www.dot.nm.gov/blog/2026/05/26/public-is-invited-to-a-ribbon-cutting-for-the-nm-101-university-avenue-improvement-project/

I "think" this project is done.  That is what the above link sounds like.  It has been underway for about 2 years and covers NM 101 between South Main (NM 478) and Avenida de Mesilla.  NM 101 is University Avenue extended over towards Mesilla from the NMSU campus.  I don't think anything new is planned for University Ave. near campus.

[Plutonic Panda]

NM101/University Ave project is kicking off in Las Cruces. With a price tag of about 20 million not sure what they're planning but this press release says multimodal improvements:

https://www.dot.nm.gov/blog/2026/05/26/public-is-invited-to-a-ribbon-cutting-for-the-nm-101-university-avenue-improvement-project/

I "think" this project is done.  That is what the above link sounds like.  It has been underway for about 2 years and covers NM 101 between South Main (NM 478) and Avenida de Mesilla.  NM 101 is University Avenue extended over towards Mesilla from the NMSU campus.  I don't think anything new is planned for University Ave. near campus.

I read ribbon cutting as ground breaking for some reason. Yep project is almost finished.