U.S. 70 construction begins Monday

U.S. 70 reconstruction will start Monday on First and Second streets between Avenue C and University Place. Roads will be reduced to single lanes, beginning the first phase of a year-long project.

Benna Sayyed: Portales News-Tribune

The intersection of West Second Street and South Avenue C marks the west end of phase one construction.

Construction was scheduled to begin last week but was postponed due to rain.

The $8.3 million project consists of more than two miles of the highway to be under renovation until August 2013, according to project manager John Guldemann of Constructors Inc.

Guldemann said work will include concrete paving, new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, new lighting, irrigation and landscaping.

Construction will also involve ADA rehabilitation and compliance throughout the length of the project.

The project will be split in three phases. According to Guldemann, the following repairs will take place:

Phase 1 — First and Second streets between University Place and Avenue C. Construction is expected to end in mid to late December. The project should take around 140 days, weather permitting.

Construction will take place one lane at a time; the left hand lane on Second and the right hand lane on First will be repaired first.

The median will receive new landscaping to include a variety of trees and bushes that are native to the area.

Construction will include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, concrete pavement and driveways into businesses.

Other repairs associated with constructing new driveways will include repaving asphalt to patch damaged areas in parking lots.

Portland cement will be used in all concrete repairs. Various old signs will be replaced with new signs. No stop signs will change but several new traffic signs will be installed.

Phase 2 — First and Second streets between Avenue C and Boston Avenue. Construction will start in January 2013 and last until May 2013. Construction will take about 80 days.

Construction will include the same general repairs as phase one for this area. In addition to those repairs, bulbouts, which narrow the road in the downtown area, will receive a makeover.

The intersections of First and Main and Second and Main streets will receive new traffic signals. Both sides of the street between South Avenue B and Main will receive new decorative lighting. Several new signs will be installed.

Phase 3 — About three and a half blocks of Second Street north of Boston Avenue; Avenue C between First and Second streets and U.S. 70 between Avenue K and the Super 8 Motel.

Construction will begin in mid May 2013. The project is scheduled to be complete by August 2013.

In addition to the general repairs, new asphalt will be laid on Avenue C between First and Second streets and on U.S. 70 between University Drive and the stretch of the highway near the Super 8 Motel.

The median at the junction of First and Second will receive new landscaping and street lighting.

Pat Garcia, New Mexico Department of Transportation Portales area construction assistant project manager, said this project may be a burden to motorists but it has been much needed.

"With the obvious increase in traffic and truck weights, we've had a lot of problems with our existing highway," Garcia said. "Concrete will help alleviate these issues throughout the city."

Motorists are advised to be considerate of construction workers, observe construction signing, and obey the posted speed limit in the construction area.

Garcia said considering traffic congestion, they are working with the city police and the county to get motorists around as smoothly and safely as possible.

Here are what local business owners affected by the construction had to say:

Rosalie Richards, owner of Hestands Floral and Gifts:

"When John (Guldemann) came through and talked to my husband and I, we were really pleased with what he had to say. We're confident in the construction company that they have the businesses' best interests at heart.

I think they are going to do it as quickly as they can with the least amount of disruption to businesses. I'm just grateful it's happening in the summer and not around Mother's Day or Valentine's Day."

Richards said they will use their business' sign to advertise access to their business and they are going to try to cut a curb out behind their store to give customers rear access.

Dawg Houze bar owner Chad Heflin

"I got a good vibe from them (Constructors Inc.) I think they'll do what they say they'll do and try to make it easier for us. As a business owner, you can't expect them to do everything, so I'll do some things, too."