Westside Blvd. to have one lane closed westbound from west of Grande Blvd to Golf Course Road; eastbound to have alternating, occasional right lane closures after 8:30 a.m. during Balloon Fiesta Update as of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022
CONTACTS for questions and concerns or to sign up for email updates on the project: Patti Watson, 505-245-3134 office; 505-269-9691 cell; pattiw@cwastrategic.com Ty Stevers, 505-245-3138 office; 505-417-9989 cell; tys@cwastrategic.com
NEW In order to provide as much access as possible for Balloon Fiesta traffic, beginning Saturday, Oct. 1 and lasting through Sunday, Oct. 9, the following traffic impacts will be in place:
. Westbound traffic on Westside Blvd. will be reduced to one lane from west of Grande Blvd. (across from La Sierrita) to Golf Course Road
. Eastbound traffic on Westside Blvd. will be reduced to one thru lane and one dedicated right turn lane to head southbound on Golf Course Road just west of Golf Course Road.
. Eastbound traffic on Westside Blvd. may have occasional, alternating right lane closures during the daytime after 9:30 a.m.
Motorists traveling in this area should use extra caution and obey posted speed limits.
Regular work hours are Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., although the contractor may work longer hours or on weekends if needed. Some Saturday work is planned for the next few weeks. All construction is weather permitting and subject to change without notice.
It’s officially fall, which means we’re in the prime season of green chile roasting, golden cottonwoods, and of course, Balloon Fiesta. This year, we’re celebrating the Fiesta’s 50th Anniversary. For 50 years, our city has grown this tradition and the community around it into what is is today: an event that has captured the imagination of millions and represents the heart of the community.
Here at the City, we’re in Fiesta mode and have been hard at work preparing for visitors from near and far. We’ve built a number of significant improvements that will help this year be a success and pave the way for the next 50 years of Fiesta. Those infrastructure improvements include more parking and the installation of a new slip ramp that will reduce traffic congestion and make exiting the park easier for drivers. Our Solid Waste Department and Parks and Recreation joined forces for last weekend’s Company’s Comin’ event, and we are so grateful for their hard work and that of the volunteers who joined them to tidy up the park and nearby neighborhoods.
The Balloon Fiesta is a testament to our community and an opportunity for us to celebrate the best of Albuquerque together. There is something so special about taking your children for the first time, bringing in your friends from out of town, or taking part in your own unique Fiesta traditions. This really is one of the best times of the year, and we are looking forward to seeing everyone out there.
Landscape water needs begin to drop by mid-August, which is when the irrigation schedule needs to be ramped down. This may seem counter-intuitive because of how hot it is in Albuquerque during August, September and October, but when plants are preparing for the winter, they need less water. For autumn watering recommendations, visit: www.505outside.com.
Saturday, October 1 is Officer Appreciation Day at the Northwest Area Command and the community can help show their appreciation! Volunteers are needed and donations of items such as:
Hamburgers/Sandwiches
Hot dogs
Sides such as chips or salads
Plasticware, plates and cups
Gift items/gift cards
Items can be scheduled for pickup by calling Kiya Mullins at (505) 768-4850, dropped off at the NW Substation, 10401 Cibola Loop NW, or by contacting Pete Gelabert at: pgelabert@cabq.gov.
Responses from Patti Watson, CWA Strategic Communications, regarding issues raised by Seven Bar North Residents
Lighting In terms of lighting, Westside Blvd. has new lighting that was installed per the plan and that is based on the requirements of this type of urban roadway to provide safety and visibility for motorists and pedestrians. We cannot remove or change any of the lighting, however we do recognize it has increased “scatter” into nearby properties on the south side of the roadway. Once the project is complete (likely in October or November 2022), we will investigate the possibility of adding front-facing light shields to the lighting in the median and house-side light shields to the lighting on the sidewalk on the south side of the street. These shields would better focus the lighting and reduce the amount that shines into back yards.
Speed Limits The speed limit signs are currently covered because construction is still taking place. They will be uncovered when construction is completed and the speed limit will be 35 miles per hour. If speeding is a problem we will investigate available mitigation measures (slow down, speed monitoring etc.). As you know speeding and drag racing are a problem throughout Albuquerque. We will consult with the Albuquerque Police Department to see what measures can be taken (targeted ticketing, etc.) to address this issue.
Noise We recognize that this project may have an impact on sound/noise levels on Westside Blvd. After construction is completed and traffic has had time to normalize, estimated to be about six to 12 months, plans are to do another sound/noise study and determine whether a sound wall or other mitigation measures are needed.
Left Turn from Westside onto Grande As shown on the website (www.westsidewidening.com) the final plans for the project always included a left-turn for eastbound traffic on Westside Blvd. to access Grande via a dedicated turn bay. That access was also included in the existing design (see drawings).
A traffic signal cannot be installed at the intersection of Westside and Grande because that intersection is too close to the intersection of Westside and NM 528. Installing traffic signals at the intersections of Westside and 7-Bar Loop and Westside and La Sierrita would also not be feasible because this entire stretch of roadway is only 0.85 miles. Both intersections are too close to the intersections that already have traffic signals – Westside and Golf Course and Westside and NM 528.
Home Values Because some of your residences back up to the roadway (Westside Blvd.) and have the protection of the back wall, hopefully your home values will not be impacted. As stated above, the City will conduct a noise/sound evaluation and work with the neighborhood to develop a plan to reduce any adverse noise impacts. We encourage you to participate in that process.
We recognize that construction has taken a long time and that not every aspect of the project will be ideal for every resident. We would like to encourage everyone to see how the roadway functions once all construction is completed and as referenced above, traffic has a chance to normalize. At that time, we will be happy to work with all residents to consider what mitigations are needed.
CONTACTS for questions and concerns or to sign up for email updates on the project: Patti Watson, 505-245-3134 office; 505-269-9691 cell; pattiw@cwastrategic.com Ty Stevers, 505-245-3138 office; 505-417-9989 cell; tys@cwastrategic.com
