Bridging the gaps
State briefs locals on interstate work

Artist and bridge engineer Morris Muskett is silhouetted during a presentation Wednesday showing off his artwork that will be part of the new bridges created along I-40 between Gallup and the Arizona state line. Muskett is a native of Churchrock, NM and plans to incorporate regional themes into the artwork designs. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

Morris Muskett displays a metal cut-out sample of his artwork during a public meeting Wednesday at the Gallup City Council chambers to discuss construction and improvements to I-40 between Gallup and Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

GALLUP — Only a handful of area residents showed up Wednesday for a briefing and public hearing by the state highway department on new roadwork to be done on Interstate 40 later this year.

The state is planning to spend about $18 million to make improvements to a five mile section of Interstate 40 just west of Gallup from Milepost 12 to Milepost 17.

Edward Escudero, project development engineer for the New Mexico Highway and Transportation Department, said construction on the stretch of highway is expected to begin in June. It's expected to be completed in late 2006.

Besides redoing the five-mile stretch, the state also plans to replace two underpasses (on Crestview Road and New Mexico State Road 118). It will also include the replacement of concrete pavement slabs at the Gallup Port of Entry and at the Exit 16 interchange ramps.

There will be some inconvenience to travelers during the construction period.

Escudero said that during much of the construction, the stretch of highway will revert to one lane going in each direction. There will also be some delays for truckers while work is done at the Port of Entry but highway officials said that this will probably only be for a day or two.

Most of the questions posed at Wednesday's meeting surrounded the removal of the underpasses and the building of the two bridges.

Escudero said that there was some talk in the beginning of widening these areas because of complaints that traffic got too close, especially when buses were going through the underpass.

However, this had to be canceled as part of the scale back so it could be done under the funds that were projected.

Highway officials said people who use the underpasses will notice a big difference since the bridges will be made in two parts and the spaces between the two halves will provide some sunlight for the people who drive underneath.

The renovation is expected to make that stretch of the highway a little safer.

Between 2001 and 2002, 54 crashes were reported along that stretch of the highway with five of them resulting in fatalities. Another 15 crashes caused injuries.

Something new will be added to the bridges this time around.

For the past year, the state has been including artwork on the bridges for mainly aesthetic reasons and the sides of the bridges will include some designs. Drivers on the Interstate won't be able to see them but those who go under the bridges will.

Morris Muskett, who was originally a bridge engineer for the state highway department, has been assigned to coordinate the designs because of his background in weaving and art.

A native of Church Rock, Muskett said the designs he will be using will reflect the southwestern and Native American heritage of the area around Gallup.

The designs will include rams, sheep and horses, as well as geometric designs that can be seen on Navajo rugs.

The artwork isn't expected to add a lot of cost to the project, he added, pointing out that one recent project that was recently completed near Hatch only cost an extra $3,000.

State highway officials said they hope that the artwork would reduce the problem of graffiti on the bridges.