Lea County roadways are busy these days. Oil and gas traffic is creating difficult issues, especially in the southwestern portion of the county near the small community of Jal.
Jal’s mayor David Aldridge is quoted in a recent article published at CurrentArgus.com as saying, “’The traffic burden out here sometimes of the day is unbelievable. Industry traffic backs up east and west and sometimes to the south.'”
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher agrees. He says in his video summary posted on Facebook of the Lea County Commissioners July 14 meeting that these roadways often receive more usage than New Mexico state thoroughfares.
NMDOT Funds Study
This traffic has been a problem the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has known about for some time, previously allotting the City of Jal $4 million to conduct a study for a “relief route”.
With all of this usage comes accidents. According to the Current Argus article, “More than 700 vehicle crashes occurred on New Mexico 31 and 128 from 2014 to 2019….” Of these accidents 28 percent resulted in injuries and/or death.
New Mexico Senators Ask for Federal Funding
The Lea County traffic congestion problem prompted US Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to request federal funding in the amount of $1,000,000 to be allocated to NMDOT for a relief route study along New Mexico State Road 128 from Eddy Country to the Texas border. The relief route is part of an “overall safety improvement plan” for state roads 128 and 31 states NMDOT.
In a July 29 joint press release Sen. Luján and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) announced a proposed $250 million appropriations package to fund 130 projects in New Mexico during the 2023 fiscal year. The $1,000,000 for the study for the State Road 128 relief route is part of this appropriations package.
In the joint press release Sen. Heinrich said, “The Appropriations process gives us the opportunity to take community-based approaches to solving local issues.” Sen. Luján added, “I was proud to work alongside Senator Heinrich to advance funding for critical local projects that will make a real impact in the lives of New Mexicans, once it is passed by the Senate and signed into law.”
The $250 million that Senators Luján and Heinrich are requesting for the 130 New Mexico projects is part of an almost $1.7 trillion federal spending package the Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed for the 2023 fiscal year. The plan is yet to be voted on by the full Senate.
Although the highway 128 project remains in the design stages, this planning is not slated to last forever. NMDOT at its website states that construction to relieve congestion on highways 128 and 31 could start in 2023. Safety improvement studies should wrap-up this year.
According to the Current Argus article, NMDOT has already “secured nearly $500 million in federal and state funds for phase one work….”
NMDOT data states that State Road 31 travels from a junction with US Highway 285 to US 62/180 near Carlsbad, a distance of 22 miles. State Road 128 extends from New Mexico 31 through Lea County to the Texas border, about 60 miles.
Other Forthcoming County Road Improvements
In addition to forthcoming improvements to highways 128 and 31, over $18.5 million in county funds has been budgeted this year to improve Lea County roads. County commissioners agree that improving the county’s roadways in both industrial and residential areas is a major priority. According to County Manager Gallagher, the funding will allow over “50 miles of new roadway reconstruction”, benefiting the county as a whole as well as all stakeholders.
Anyone wishing more information or having questions and/or concerns about improvements to Lea County roads is asked to contact Mike Gallagher directly at 575-605-6567 or at leacounty@leacounty.net.
