REQUEST FOR INPUT – NM 117 MP 47 to MP 50, Roadway and Drainage Improvements Study, CN 6101160

The New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration invite you to provide input on the draft study for NM 117, near the El Malpais Ranger Station, between mileposts 47 and 50.  Located about 10 miles south of Grants in Cibola County, this stretch of highway runs next to the El Malpais National Monument, El Malpais National Conservation Area, and the Pueblo of Acoma.

The study aims to improve safety, reliability, and resilience by addressing roadway and drainage deficiencies and upgrading the highway to meet modern design standards.  Current challenges include:

• Frequent closures due to flooding & sediment buildup
• No shoulders for emergencies or pedestrians
• Aging, inadequate drainage infrastructure
• Roadway does not meet current design criteria

The recommended improvements include:

• Widening travel lanes to 12 feet and adding 4-foot shoulders
• Raising the road elevation to reduce flood closures
• Installing new box culverts and earthen berms for stormwater management

We’re collecting public input to finalize the Study this winter. Once complete, the team will move into design development, with construction funding to be pursued in future years. 

To request assistance, language translation, or ADA accommodations, contact John Taschek at (505) 980-0993 or jtasheck@barr.com. Para obtener información en español, envíe un correo electrónico a John Taschek a jtaschek@barr.com.