Scene showing the condition this week of the culverts that support N.M. 502 where the Jaconita Arroyo passes under the road. Courtesy/Lucy Lyon

Scene showing the condition this week of the culverts that support N.M. 502 where the Jaconita Arroyo passes under the road. Courtesy/Lucy Lyon

By LUCY LYON
Longtime resident of Jaconita

As a longtime resident of the Pojoaque Valley, I want to bring to your attention the potentially hazardous condition of the culverts that support N.M. 502 where the Jaconita Arroyo passes under the road.

Recently I have witnessed the rapid deterioration of the culverts. The impact of flash flooding has washed away the gabion wall (rock and wire mesh structure), eaten away the dirt under the culverts and NOW the cement supports for the culverts have cracked and broken away from the culverts.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation is aware of this problem. The culvert system needs immediate repair while they can still be recovered.

N.M. 502 is the main access to the Pojoaque Schools and Los Alamos. If the road should collapse the impact to surrounding communities could be catastrophic.

Concerned citizens contact your state and local representatives.

Scene showing the condition this week of the culverts that support N.M. 502 where the Jaconita Arroyo passes under the road. Courtesy/Lucy Lyon