‌

Road Construction Update: Week of July 11, 2022 Read the latest road construction updates from Los Alamos County

Public Works Projects:  The projects listed in this section are being managed by County Public Works staff through contractors. For more information, please e-mail lacpw@lacnm.us, call 662-8150, or visit “Projects/Public Works”. 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.

Canyon Rd Reconstruction  TLC Plumbing and Utility, under contract with Los Alamos County Public Works Department has begun the first phase of a three-phase road and utility construction project on Central/Canyon Road. Traffic delays are expected.  Phase 1 starts on Central/Canyon at Rose St. and continues to the western driveway of the Aquatic Center. This segment of work is anticipated to be completed by September 8.  Phase 2 will commence on Central/Canyon at the Aquatic Center western driveway and continue to 39th street. This work is scheduled between September 8 and October 31. The final phase will be the section of Canyon Rd between the Aquatic and the Nature Center (see map).  Completion of all three phases of the project is scheduled at the end of November 2022. The intersection at Central and Rose St. and the intersection at Central and Canyon Rd. are closed to through traffic. To access the United Church, Nature Center and Jewish Center, motorists should use Rose St and Canyon Rd westward from 15th St.  The Aquatic Center, Canyon Village Apartments, and IHM Catholic Church may be accessed on Canyon Rd traveling east from Diamond. Officials with Public Works ask motorists to please follow detour signs.  Sidewalk closures are posted with detour signage to keep pedestrians clear of the work zone.  According to the Traffic and Streets Division, crews will be adjusting the timing sequence of the traffic signals along Diamond to help with traffic flow patterns. Additionally, Atomic City Transit and Park and Ride staff have adjusted bus routes accordingly. Services such as mail delivery, trash and recycling collection, and emergency services will be maintained.  Construction hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution around construction activities, avoid entering the work zone and obey all work zone signage. In addition, motorists are asked to utilize Trinity Dr as much as possible as the main thoroughfare between neighborhoods and the downtown area.

Sherwood Blvd and Aztec Ave  Crews with Star Paving Company will continue road and drainage improvements on Sherwood Blvd between Piedra Loop and Aztec Ave.   Sherwood will be closed to through traffic at the intersection of Aztec and Grand Canyon Dr. Residents on Sherwood will be required to enter and exit Sherwood either from Aztec or Grand Canyon depending on the daily position of the movable work zone. This closure is necessary to facilitate installation of new storm drainpipe. Traffic devices and detour signs are in place to help motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians navigate around the work zone. Vehicular access is limited to those who reside in the immediate work area and mail delivery, emergency services, trash, and recycling collection. For the safety of the traveling public, residents are asked not to remove or relocate traffic control devices, signs, and barricades. Area residents who may have special access needs are asked to contact the Public Works Department. Closure of Sherwood from Grand Canyon to Aztec for this first phase of work is scheduled through the end of July, while closure for the next phase of roadwork from Longview Dr to Aztec Ave is scheduled for mid-July 2022, and the final phase from Piedra Loop to Grand Canyon is scheduled for August 2022.   Work schedules are subject to change pending weather conditions and any material shipping delays. Work Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cumbres del Norte Road Improvements  Star Paving crews continue removal operations of curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and drive pads from the intersection of Camino Redondo and San Ildefonso heading south for approximately 2,000 feet. The contractor will be forming and placing sidewalk, curb & gutter, and drive pads throughout the described removal area. Expect contractor personnel and equipment within the area. Please use caution while traveling through the project work zone.

DP Rd (Work related to Canyon Walk Apts and The Bluffs – Bethel Development) A contractor working for Qualcon Builders will continue construction of the remaining sidewalk sections, replacement of broken curb and gutter and clean up and grading along the sides of DP Road. These activities will impact DP Rd from Trinity Dr to Fire Station #2 with segments of the roadway periodically restricted to one-lane traffic controlled by a flagger. One-lane traffic restrictions will occur only during hours of construction potentially from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.     This work on DP Rd is related to the Canyon Walk Apartments and The Bluffs senior housing (under construction). The roadway reconstruction includes installation of curb and gutter, sidewalks and paving of the roadway and the bulk of which was completed in the Fall of 2021. All remaining construction activities related to the reconstruction of DP Rd are now expected to be completed by the end of July 2022 (weather permitting).

Canyon Rim Trail Underpass  The Canyon Rim Trail and Parking lot will be closed for corrective work to the trail from July 12-19. The trail closure will begin at the intersection with Entrada Dr and will extend south of NM 502 (East Road) to the trail T-Intersection and parking lot area. Access to the underpass will not be permitted during this time. 

Traffic & Streets Projects:  The projects listed in this section are being managed by County Traffic & Streets Division staff. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Call Daniel Blea, Acting Traffic and Streets Manager for concerns, 505-663-8206.

Countywide Striping    Crews will continue striping roads in White Rock and Los Alamos. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic are urged to maintain a safe distance from the striping equipment to prevent getting their property from sprayed with paint.

Asphalt and Concrete Repair Work Traffic and Streets crews will be working with the Gas, Water, and Sewer Division of Utilities to repair patches of asphalt and concrete disturbed while repairing utility infrastructure. They will begin in the following locations and work down the list:  North Mesa - Big Rock Loop, Camino Cereza West of 2200 Diamond Drive Villa Street, Sycamore, Walnut, Orange St, Nickel, 36th St, 34th St, 33rd St, and 40th St  Nectar, Central Ave Shirlane Pl (White Rock) Work will begin on North Mesa on Monday, July 11 at 8:30 a.m. and end daily by 3:30 p.m. The work will continue through July 22nd (weather permitting).  Crews will have temporary traffic control set up in these locations with flagging operations. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic are urged to slow down in the work zones and follow all traffic control devices.

Herbicide Application at NM 502 Round-about In cooperation with Los Alamos Community Services Department/Parks Division, crews will be applying herbicide within the new round-about on NM 502 at Trinity Dr and Central Ave. Crews will start spraying on Thursday, July 14th at 10:00 a.m. For more information about the product being used, call Daniel Blea, Traffic and Streets Manager at 505-663-8206 or Katherine Hudspeth, Community Services Management Analyst at 505-662-8249.  

Non-County Projects:  The following road construction updates are posted below in the interest of keeping residents informed but are being managed or conducted by others. Please obey all traffic devices and slowdown in work zones.

Portable Classroom Transport from Mountain Elementary to Aspen Elementary School Desert Wind Transport is working with Los Alamos Public Schools to transport a portable classroom from Mountain Elementary School to Aspen Elementary School. The move will occur on July 14 at 10:00 a.m.  Desert Wind Transport is asking residents who live along 38th or Villa Streets to move all vehicles onto their property (off the street) and if that is not an option, move all vehicles to the east side of 38th St and the north side of Villa St in order to clear a path that allows the oversized load to move along the route.  The planned route is from Mountain Elementary to North Road, to Arkansas, to 38th St, to Villa St, to 33rd St, and behind Aspen Elementary. The affected neighborhood streets will be: North Rd from Mountain Elementary to Arkansas Arkansas from North Rd to Diamond Dr 38th St from Diamond Dr to Villa St Villa St from 38th to 33rd Sts 33rd St from Villa St to rear entrance of Aspen Elementary School Los Alamos Police Department will be assisting with this transport. Fliers will be posted on vehicles and doors along the route. Contact regarding concerns or issues is Desert Wind Transport, Shelley Crawley 505-793-4066

Camino Encantado Sidewalk Closure M3 Communications, LLC., will be performing a directional bore to replace a damaged cable for Comcast at 760 Camino Encantado. The work will commence July 12 and should be completed by July 18. Work will begin daily at 8:30 a.m. and end by 5:00 p.m. The sidewalk will be closed on the north side of Camino Encantado. Pedestrians will be detoured to the south side of Camino Encantado at Tecolote St and Escondido St.  For concerns or questions about this project please contact Roberto Magana at 505-977-2202

LANL: Bikini Atoll   Crews are working near the entrance to the Receiving and Distribution Center at TA03-0030. Expect some delays on Bikini Atoll from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through mid-August.   LANL: West Rd Posts and cables are being installed along West Rd. Traffic will be reduced to one lane during the day. Traffic signals indicating the one-lane closure will start about 500 feet northeast of Omega Rd and extend about 500 feet west of the reservoir entrance. All traffic should obey the temporary traffic signals and watch for workers. The work is expected to be completed in early July 2022.