Hilltop House Demolition

All Rite Construction, under contract with Los Alamos County Public Works, has begun demolition of the former Hilltop House hotel and gas station, located at the NM502/Central Ave roundabout. Regular truck traffic will be entering and exiting the project site throughout the duration of the project. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are asked to use caution in the area of the work zone. Demolition is expected to be completed by January 2023, weather permitting. The sidewalk along the site remains closed.

Hilltop House Demolition. Courtesy/LAC

Canyon Road Reconstruction

TLC Plumbing and Utility, under contract with the Los Alamos County Public Works Department has completed Phase 1 of the three-phase project on Central Avenue and Canyon Rd

The final surface of pavement placement began on Friday, October 14 from 39th Street to Oppenheimer Drive. Flagger operation will be onsite to direct traffic around the construction for those that need access to Aquatic Center, IHM Catholic Church, and LAPS staff parking lot.

Access to the Aquatic Center and Canyon Village Apartments continues to be provided from the east via Central Avenue. LAPS Staff Parking Lot and IHM Catholic Church continue to be accessible from the west via Diamond Drive and Canyon Road through the work zone.

Sidewalk closures are posted with detour signage to keep pedestrians clear of the work zone.

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.

Completion of the project is scheduled for the end of October 2022.

Construction hours are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To stay on schedule and avoid weather delays, crews will have an earlier start time. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution around construction activities, avoid entering the work zone and obey all work zone signage. Motorists are asked to utilize Trinity Drive as much as possible as the main thoroughfare between neighborhoods and the downtown area. 

The Tennis Courts located on Canyon Road will remain closed, as the area is being utilized as an equipment staging area for the duration of the project.

Canyon Road construction project. Courtesy/LAC

Sherwood Boulevard and Aztec Avenue

Star Paving Company continues road and drainage improvements on Sherwood Boulevard between Piedra Loop and Aztec Avenue.

Sherwood continues to be closed to through traffic from north of Aztec Avenue to Grand Canyon Drive with grading of the roadway underway in preparation for paving. Residents on Sherwood Boulevard will be required to enter and exit Sherwood from the north during this time.

The third phase of the project will continue with the westbound lane of Grand Canyon Drive at Sherwood Boulevard being closed and starting Wednesday, Oct. 19 the eastbound lane on Grand Canyon at Sherwood Boulevard will be closed. Please follow the detour signs.

Traffic devices and detour signs are in place to help motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians navigate around the work zone.

Vehicle 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.

Work schedules are subject to change pending weather conditions and any material shipping delays. Work Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sherwood Boulevard in White Rock. Courtesy/LAC

DP Road Utility Infrastructure Replacement and Roadway Reconstruction

During the week of Oct. 17, a contractor working for Qualcon Builders will continue construction of the remaining sidewalk sections, replacement of broken curb and gutter, street light installation and clean up and grading along the sides of DP Road. These activities will impact DP Road from Trinity Drive 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 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.  

This work in DP Road is related to the Canyon Walk Apartments and The Bluffs senior housing (under construction). The roadway reconstruction included the 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 Road are now expected to be completed by the end of October 2022 (weather permitting).

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. Direct questions to Traffic and Streets Manager Daniel Blea at 505.663.8206.

Central Avenue asphalt patching. Courtesy/LAC

Central Avenue Road Closure for Night Work Asphalt Patching

This will be a road closure for asphalt patching and the work will be done at night to limit the disruption to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The road closure will occur on two nights: Central Avenue, between 15th Street and Oppenheimer Drive, will be closed to all traffic at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 until 5 a.m. Oct. 20.

The road also will be closed at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 until 5 a.m. Oct. 21. Crews will be patching sections of asphalt along this route.

Pedestrian and vehicle traffic will need to watch for detour signs detouring traffic to Trinity Drive at 15th Street, Canyon Road at 15th Street to Trinity at Oppenheimer, and to Canyon at the intersection of Canyon/Central Avenue.

Pedestrian and vehicle traffic should approach slowly and follow all detour signs. 

Ice Rink Parking Lot Closure for Cleaning and Striping

Crews will be striping the parking lots at the Ice Rink beginning Oct. 20 and 21. They will begin cleaning the parking lots Oct. 20 and stripe them Oct. 21.

The work will begin 8 a.m. and finish by 4 p.m. daily. People are asked to park in the dirt parking lot while the work is being done and avoid the paved parking areas while this work is being done.

Utilities Projects: 

The projects listed in this section are being managed by Department of Public Utilities (DPU) staff.

Slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Call DPU Project Manager Dennis Segura at 505.662.8123.

Sewer Lines to be Replaced on Sombrillo Court

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is starting a sewer line replacement project on Sombrillo Court with excavation to begin Monday. DPU’s contractor is potholing there to locate existing sewer lines in preparation for the project.

Starting Monday, the entrance to Sombrillo Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will be narrowed while installing a new manhole in the area. Drivers will still be able to enter and exit but are asked to drive slowly and cautiously while entering and exiting the parking lot. It has not yet been determined how long the manhole installation should take.

The installation of the new sewer line is expected to take under 30 days. It will occur to the side of the Sombrillo Court cul-de-sac, so traffic won’t be impeded. The replacement is being done because a portion of sewer line and multiple service lines were constructed in the past with no flushing points. Some sections have fittings that cannot be maintained because their pipes are undersized and awkwardly placed.

The replacement pipes will be placed according to DPU’s current standards that include adequately-sized main line with manholes and service lines with adequate slope and cleanouts for flushing.

Residents with questions about the project should call DPU Senior Engineer James Martinez at 505.663.1907 during business hours.

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.

Sioux Street sidewalk work should be completed by Monday, Oct. 17. Courtesy/LAC

Sioux Street Sidewalk Closure

Cablecom, LLC, will be closing the sidewalk at 1103 Sioux Street on all three sides of the property. Pedestrian traffic should cross at either the NW corner of Seminole at Iroquois Street or at the SW corner of Sioux Street at Iroquois Street. Crews will be boring to replace the coaxial cable in this location.

The work began Tuesday, Oct. 11, and should be completed by Monday, Oct. 17. Work will begin at 9 a.m. and be complete by 4 p.m. daily.

For questions or concerns regarding this project, contact Adrian Rivas with CableCom, LLC at 505.225.5967.

Club Road at Woodland Road & Arizona Avenue Road Closure for a Block Party

Residents in the location of Club Road will be having a block party 4-7 p.m. Oct. 15. They will be closing the road at Club Road and Arizona Avenue and at Club Road and Woodland.

For questions regarding the road closure, contact Larissa Baker at 505.695.5262.

Trick-or-Trot 5K Run

There will be a Trick-or-Trot 5K Run 9-11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Barranca Elementary School. They will be closing the road at Barranca and Loma Del Escolar toward Navajo/Barranca and also at Camino Encantado to Tecolote.

The actual route is at the Entrance to Barranca Elementary School to Camino Encantado to Tecolote Street, turn around back to school (1k Run ends) continue down Barranca Road to Cascabel, to La Cueva Street, to Barranca and to Los Pueblos to Navajo Road and back to Barranca for the 5K Run.