Los Alamos Co. Construction News for the

week of August 21, 2023


Public Works Projects: 


Los Alamos County Public Works' staff manages the projects listed in this section through contractors. For more information, please email  [email protected], call (505)662-8150, or visit the Public Works' Project webpage at lacnm.com/PW-Projects. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Please note the below information is based on a schedule provided by the contractors and may change due to weather or other delays. Public Works officials thank the community in advance for their cooperation and patience.



Loma Linda Road Improvements Project 

 

Albuquerque Asphalt Inc. will be working on La Mirada Circle and La Tierra Road. Prior to construction/demolition of existing concrete driveways, curb & gutter, and/or sidewalk, the field crew will paint a pink “X” on the structures slated for removal and replacement. If you see a pink “X” painted on your driveway and/or concrete adjacent to your property, please plan to relocate your vehicle to the opposite side of the street as work will start the next day. If your property has multiple driveways only one entrance will be closed at a given time. The process of removal and replacement should take approximately 5-6 days. Construction hours will be 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.


The Contractor will ensure ingress and egress to residents' homes as much as possible and coordinate driveway apron reconstruction. In addition, services such as mail delivery, trash and recycling collection, school bus, and emergency services will always be maintained. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to use caution around construction activities and avoid entering the work zone. 


The project is scheduled for completion in June 2024 with a winter weather suspension period. Questions/comments call James Malcom with the Public Works Department at 662-8150 or send an email to [email protected]

DP Road Construction Activity

 

Contractors for Qualcon Builders (Canyon Walk Apartments) will be trenching for a new electrical line off the north side of DP Road in the vicinity of the Knights of Columbus.

During these construction activities, one lane of DP Road around the Knights of Columbus may be closed for short periods. The contractor will have traffic control (flaggers) on site to direct traffic safely through the work area during these times. Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists are asked to use caution and follow the direction of the flaggers during this work.


Questions/comments call Keith Wilson with the Public Works Department at 663-1757 or send an email to [email protected].



Traffic & Streets Projects: 


Los Alamos County Traffic & Streets Division staff manages the projects listed in this section. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Call Daniel Blea, Traffic and Streets Manager, for concerns 505-663-8206.



Concrete Work Behind Los Alamos History Museum Guest House on Juniper Street 

 

Crews will be repairing a driveway, curb, and gutter behind the Los Alamos Historical Museum Guest House on Juniper Street. Pedestrian detour signs will be in place as needed. Work will begin Tuesday, August 22 until completed. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

 

Concrete Work on North Road in front of Mountain Elementary School 


Crews will be replacing sections of sidewalk on North Road in front of Mountain Elementary School beginning Monday, August 21. The sidewalks will be temporarily closed in this area with detour signs as needed. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. 

Trail and Right-of-Way Cleaning around UNM-Los Alamos 


Crews will be working around UNM-Los Alamos cleaning debris and overgrown vegetation away from trails and the right-of-way. Work will begin August 21 and continue until completed. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.  

Striping Begins on Barranca Mesa Monday, August 14 

 

Weather permitting, crews will begin laying out markings/lines in preparation to stripe the recently paved roads on Barranca Mesa. Work will start at the roundabout and continue towards Barranca Mesa. There will be a flagging operation in place. Traffic is asked to watch for crews, the striping machine, and fresh paint. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. For information regarding this project, contact Anthony Lucero at 505-795-3671.

Los Alamos Nature Center Parking Lot Striping Begins August 22

 

Weather permitting, crews will be coming in at 5 a.m. to strip the Los Alamos Nature Center parking lot on August 22. The Center is closed on Tuesdays, which allows the crew to close the parking lot for this project.

Curb Painting on Barranca Road and Loma de Escolar August 21

 

Weather permitting, crews will be painting curbs on Barranca Road and Loma de Escolar at the Barranca Elementary School. Work will begin August 21 and continue until completed. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 


Utilities Projects: 

Los Alamos County Dept. of Public Utilities (DPU) staff manages the projects listed in this section. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Contact the Customer Care Center (505) 662-8333, [email protected], or visit ladpu.com/Projects.  






Trenching for Electric Continues on Barranca Mesa


DPU is replacing primary underground electric lines and conduit at the eastern end of Barranca Mesa. The project has been extended to continue through the end of August. 



DPU’s contractor, Paul Parker Construction Company, is excavating between 410 and 500 Navajo Road and south on Totavi Street. Excavation continues across the intersection of Totavi and Navajo and then through to the end of the Totavi cul-de-sac. Residents in the area should expect sidewalk closures and exercise caution while driving through the work zone. All trenching is on one side of the street. 




Non-County Projects: 


The following construction projects are not funded by Los Alamos County. Updates are included to keep residents informed of potential traffic impacts. Questions should be directed to the parties identified within each description. Please obey all traffic devices and slow down in work zones.  



Hilltopper Run 2023 – Canyon Rim Trail Closure August 19

 

The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, in coordination with TCR Productions, will sponsor the 2nd Annual Hilltopper Run Saturday, August 19 on the Canyon Rim Trail in Los Alamos. The trail will be closed for public use at both ends (Smiths to the underpass on NM 502) from 7 a.m. until noon. The race staging area will be at the Smith’s Marketplace parking lot at the west end of the Canyon Rim Trailhead. There will be flaggers situated on DP Road to assist participants across the road where the trail and DP Road meet. For questions regarding this event, please contact Tom Rojas, TCR Productions, at 505-480-6423. 


2023 Annual Bear Festival at Los Alamos Nature Center August 26

 

Los Alamos Nature Center will be hosting the annual Bear Festival Saturday, August 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parking lot will be closed to accommodate vendors and displays. Participants may park at The United Church or bike/walk to the event. For more information, contact Ashleigh Lusher at 512-921-7555.

Shoulder Work and Temporary Full Road Closure on North Mesa Road, South San Ildefonso Road, and Diamond Drive

 

Kelly Cable NM will be removing and replacing overhead/aerial fiber on the north side of North Mesa Road from Hawk Drive to Loma Linda Drive, on the west side of South San Ildefonso Road near the roundabout, and on the north side of Diamond Drive at the roundabout. There will be shoulder closures with a flagging operation in each location. In addition to the flagging operation, there will be a temporary full road closure at each location when the construction company extends fiber lines across the road. Closures should last approximately 20-30 minutes each and will occur during non-peak hours (9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to avoid traffic congestion. Please plan your commute accordingly. Weather permitting the project will conclude August 31. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Contact Charlie Lovato at 505-350-9252 for questions or concerns.


Flagging Operation on Sandia Drive, 49th St., and West Trinity Drive

 

Cablecom, LLC will be performing aerial/overhead overlash work along the south side of West Trinity Drive, east side of 49th St., and on the north side of Sandia Drive. There will be a moving flagging operation in place. Weather permitting, work should be completed by September 8. Work hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information regarding this project, contact Adrian Rivas at 505-225-5967.


Orange Street Shoulder Work

 

Cablecom, LLC will be performing aerial/overhead overlash work on the north side of Orange Street by the Family Strengths Network. The shoulder area will be closed. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by September 8. Work hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information regarding this project, contact Adrian Rivas at 505-225-5967.

Utility Work on East and West Trinity Drive

 

Cablecom, LLC, in association with Sons Communications, will continue working along the north side of Trinity Drive beginning at 37th St. and continuing toward West Trinity. Crews will be repairing potholes on East Trinity. This portion of the project will begin August 22 and continue through September 8.


There will be a lane shift into the median, westbound on Trinity. The sidewalk along the north side of Trinity will be closed from 36th St. to the west side of Trinity. Additionally, on Diamond Drive, the northbound lanes and bike lane from the intersection of West Road to Canyon Road may be impacted. The contractors will attempt to accommodate the bike lane and stage their equipment on the right side of the northbound lane. Field modifications to the bike lanes may be necessary, including possibly having to share the road with motorists.  


For questions regarding this project, please contact Javier Gonzales at 505-264-3965

Manhole Clean-up on Central Ave. Begins August 22

 

Kelly Cable, LLC, will be cleaning manholes on Central Ave. beginning Tuesday, August 22. Crews will be pumping water out of three manholes. Work will begin at the intersection of 15th St. and Central. There will be a lane shift on the southeast corner of the intersection. Northbound traffic will shift into the median lane. The sidewalk and street parking on the south side of Central between 15th and 20th streets will be closed. The north side of Central will remain open. Crews will also be closing the shoulder on the southwest corner of 20th at Central. For more information regarding this project contact Charlie Lovato at 505-350-9252.

NNSA – Update as of July 28, 2023: Construction Continuing on Phase 2 on Project to Make Improvements To NM 4/East Jemez Road Intersection


NM Department of Transportation oversees and manages the construction project on NM 4/East Jemez Road. 

 

Crews are also working in both the southeast and southwest quadrants of the intersection on grading and installation of drainage pipeline. Construction on Phase 2 is expected to last through about late August, followed by Phases 3 and 4.  The project is expected to be completed in late 2023.

 

To help reduce congestion, commuters are encouraged to carpool, vanpool, or take one of the many bus options. Atomic City Transit is available for Los Alamos locals, and multiple buses and park-and-ride shuttles currently serve the Laboratory, including the new Pojoaque Express that transports workers directly to TA-35 and TA-55 from the Cities of Gold Casino parking lot. 

 

LANL employees can visit the Traffic News Hub for the latest information about traffic impediments on-site and en route to the Lab. Find shuttles, the LANL Taxi, vanpools, and more transit information on the LANL Transportation Hub. Community members can visit www.lacnm.com/driveless

 

During Phase 2, the following traffic impacts will be in place:


-       The southbound right lane of NM 4 is closed. Traffic is shifted to the east, with one lane of traffic open in each direction (north and south) to the intersection of NM 4 and E. Jemez Road.


-       Traffic on E. Jemez is shifted to the south, with one lane of traffic open in each direction (east and west).


-       Access to the parking area for the Bandelier National Monument Tsankawi Unit remains closed, with no alternative access provided.


-       The speed limit throughout the construction area is reduced to 35 miles per hour. PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT.


-       MOTORISTS SHOULD EXPECT DELAYS AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATIONS IN THE MORNING AND EVENING.


During construction, all existing travel lanes on NM 4 and E. Jemez Road will remain open during peak travel times – 6:30-8:30 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Any lane closures will occur during non-peak hours and flaggers will direct traffic. All construction is weather permitting and is subject to change without notice.

 

Motorists are encouraged to slow down and give themselves additional time to reach their destination. More construction phases will follow, with the project expected to be completed in late 2023. 

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