By JOEL M. WILLIAMSLos Alamos
Yes, NMDOT is now responsible for the NM502 project design, construction, etc (via contracts).
Just when LA County ceased to be party to this project is not clear; at least to me. The county did spend monies to do the things from Knecht-DP to get Smith’s up and running. Did that remove them from further monetary participation in the project and leave the remainder of the project with the state?
If the project is solely state now, then the state can exercise right of eminent domain as the one in VA did with part of a cemetery my forebears were buried in; something the county has been reluctant to exercise in the past. The pieces of KofC property have always been needed to get NM502 2-lane east-bound beyond DP Road. Been so since the State set out to remove that merge a decade or so ago. A portion I have long espoused.
As far as the roundabout is concerned, it was put into the project back several years ago when our brass (Councilors Rodgers, Izraelevitz, and the county manager) went down to SF to meet with the NMDOT brass to see that one WOULD BE PART of the project and not a light.
So, while word from the county may be that this is a state project, and no longer a joint effort (again when/how were we removed as a participatory? monetary or otherwise?), rest assured that a roundabout at Trinity-Central-East Road is solely at LA County Council’s insistence. Thus, they will NEVER be removed from this project, even if NMDOT has it built.
