Councilors grill NMDOT officials on U.S. 70 construction delay

With torn up, coned-off streets, no workers in sight for weeks and a behind-schedule construction project along Portales' portion of U.S. 70, area residents and there representatives are wanting answers for the delay.

Two representatives of the New Mexico Department of Transportation went before the Portales City Council on Tuesday night to address questions and concerns regarding the project's halt.

Representatives of the contractor hired for the project, Constructors, Inc. of Roswell, were not present at Tuesday's meeting.

"Be a little patient," NMDOT Project Manager Richard Gonzales told councilors.

Gonzales said a temperature of at least 40 degrees is needed to pour concrete, and it was one of the reasons why construction workers did not return after their two-week break in December for the Christmas holiday.

NMDOT Assistant Project Manager Pat Garcia said construction will resume on March 4, putting the project nearly two months behind.

He added that once the workers get started, there should not be any more large breaks.

But Ward B Councilor Matt Hunton said he and his constituents are upset because there are other tasks workers could be completing while they waited for the weather to warm up that didn't require warmer temperatures, such as tearing up more asphalt and sidewalk along First and Second streets.

"You wasted 30 days," Hunton said. "It's not on schedule. It's been a very poor job by the contractor and the state of letting us know."

Hunton feels there has been a lack of transparency in the decisions made by both Constructors, Inc. and NMDOT on the project, and is tired of telling concerned citizens that the project is on time because it's not.

He also says that more time has been added to the delay of the project's completion because workers were inactive in January and February, and rather than starting with laying concrete right away when they return, they will have to allot time to tear up asphalt and sidewalk.

"We are not on schedule," Gonzales said. "I'm not going to beat around the bush. They (Constructors, Inc.) need to be here."

Councilor Keith Thomas expressed concern about the project's trek into the downtown area and its effects on area businesses.

"My biggest fear is they'll get downtown and take another three-month break," Thomas said.

Garcia said he understood Thomas' concern, being that the downtown area is quite confined with all the businesses, but he assured Thomas there would be no large breaks taken while working in that area.

"It's going to go a lot quicker," Garcia said.

Councilor Dianne Parker asked project officials to not feel rushed by the expectations of citizens or others, adding that she prefers a well-executed job.

"I don't want you to feel pressure from us or even the citizens to hurry up," Parker said.

Gonzales said the quality of the job will not be risked but says in order to catch up on lost time, working on weekends may be a possibility.

"We're local, we're going to make sure it's a good job," Garcia said.

Mayor Sharon King said she plans to hold a town hall meeting for citizens where more of their concerns about the project can be addressed.