Paseo del Volcan project under way

By Jimmy Currier
Observer staff writer
Published on Monday, August 31, 2009 9:20 AM MDT

Rio Rancho officials were joined by federal, state and county officials in breaking ground on the Paseo del Volcan extension project on Monday.

“This project is a long time in the making,” said Tom Swisstack, mayor of Rio Rancho. “This will leave a lasting, positive impact on the city.”

Mountain States Construction, who was awarded a $16.5 million contract in July by the city, will extend Paseo del Volcan from Iris Boulevard to US 550.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

Swisstack said the extension is vital to the flow of traffic in the central part of the city, especially to and from the City Center area.

The extension completes the link from US 550 to Unser and will facilitate traffic to and from Interstate 25 in Bernalillo.

“This road will open up more economic opportunities,” U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) said. “We need the infrastructure and this is another example of the importance in investing in infrastructure.”

To fund the PDV project, the city is using $2.9 million of bond money combined with an $11.1 million state grant to match $14 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In March, voters gave the city the authority to issue $25 million in general obligation bonds.

Mid-Region Council of Governments Executive Director Lawrence Rael thanked Lujan for his support of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.

Rael explained that Rio Rancho received $14 million of the $25 million the Metro Albuquerque area received from the stimulus.

“That speaks to the mayor’s and the council’s perseverance,” he said. “What’s good for Rio Rancho is good for Albuquerque and what’s good for Albuquerque is good for Rio Rancho.”

The road is expected to be complete in February of 2011.

Sandoval County Commission Chairman Donnie Leonard (D-Corrales) thanked State Rep. Jack Thomas (D- Rio Rancho) for seeing the project through.

Leonard explained that when Thomas served on the Rio Rancho City Council and the Sandoval County Commission, he made the construction of Paseo del Volcan a priority. “Jack, you are the father of this road,” Leonard said.

Thomas spoke of the importance of Paseo del Volcan to Rio Rancho’s future.

“This road is so important to Rio Rancho and the development of the city,” he said. “Look at the new high school, the civic center and Hewlett-Packard. What would we do if we didn’t have this alignment? This road is key to the development of Rio Rancho’s future.”

 

Copyright © 2010 Rio Rancho Observer

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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Rio Rancho Observer.

Kellygirl wrote on Sep 1, 2009 6:40 AM:

" It's about time this road got started! It'll be great when it's done. "

Dave wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:44 PM:

" 150 years ago they could lay a mile of rail road track a day. This road should be in in less than a month. There are only 2 down sides, someone will be killed within 90 days at the Enchanted Hills intersection and you have been sucker in by the federal goverment and that will cost some of you your lives and most importantly the lives of some of your children! Don't say you did not know. "

FromPhx wrote on Sep 2, 2009 12:38 PM:

" The numbers in the article do not make sense. The writer says that the project was awarded for $16.5 million to Mountain states construction. Yet it appears that all of the available monies for the project add up to $28 million. Where is the remaining $11.5 million going? "

j wrote on Sep 3, 2009 5:09 AM:

" we need another bridge across the river not a road thru bernalillo. It takes forever to get thru there and its so far north of Albuquerque its counter productive to go that way. For anyone living out near the city center, they can count on nearly 25 min drive just to get to I 25 no matter what way they go, its ridiculous. "

rio rancho parent wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:54 PM:

" Mapquest doesn't have Paseo del Volcan listed....on the map it is listed as Main Street...there isn't a street called Main Street in that area. "

Correct wrote on Sep 3, 2009 4:32 PM:

" There will be not intersection at Enchanted Hills Blvd and Paseo del Volcan "

FromPhx wrote on Sep 3, 2009 6:02 PM:

" J is absolutley correct, another bridge across the rio grande is what is really needed. Like a said in previous post, a FREEWAY spur from mile marker 235 or so straight to downtown is what is really needed! Can't our politicians figure this out? Seems like a no-brainer to me. "

Tweedy wrote on Sep 4, 2009 9:56 AM:

" A highway spur would be great, but it's never going to happen. Exit 235, if I'm not mistaken is in Sandia Pueblo, and they aren't going to allow a road to be built through there. Not to mention the folks in Corrales. "

ri wrote on Sep 5, 2009 2:24 PM:

" yeah, try building anything in corrales.... "

NorthernMeadowsCommuter wrote on Sep 5, 2009 10:35 PM:

" They announced this as if it solves the commuting problems of RR residents... guess what Swisstack, not even close! First of all, making it only two lanes is a joke. This road needs to be FOUR lanes! The volume of RR residents commuting to Albuquerque is tremendous. Second of all, this will not relieve 550 traffic at all. It might even add to it. Lastly, I agree with all other posters... we need a river bridge! Having to go north to 550 or south to Abq adds at least 20 minutes to the commuter's time. Ask Sandia Pueblo! $$$$ "

Dennis wrote on Sep 7, 2009 3:13 PM:

" The problem is not roads, it's lack of carpooling. We all pay for our luxuries of driving one person in a car.

boo, hoo "

The Masked Poster wrote on Sep 10, 2009 12:44 PM:

" A new bridge over the river through Sandia Pueblo. That'll happen...

I wonder if Swisstack has to hear these "brilliant" ideas all day long. "

InTheKnow wrote on Sep 18, 2009 8:48 PM:

" I've been present at several NMDOT briefings on this road. Due to the way things are funded, it has to go in as a 2-lane road at first, but will eventually be 6-lane, limited access. The northern part goes through the City Center of Rio Rancho, to Hwy 550...but from the City Center, it will head west a little (about a mile or two) and head south to connect up with I-40 about a mile west of the 98th Street interchange. It will provide a high-speed, limited access route to I-40, when finished, and to I-25 via Hwy 550. "

InTheKnow wrote on Sep 18, 2009 8:53 PM:

" (...continued...)

One thing that is delaying the connection through the west/southwest part of Rio Rancho is the "fractured ownership" -- it is difficult to plan a route and purchase land for the road when there are a lot of one-lot property owners instead of a few major property owners. The road has been in the works for 20 years and will probably take another 20 to be completed. "

Me wrote on Sep 25, 2009 3:33 PM:

" "This Road will go to the new City Center" They sould rename it The Road to Nowhere! lol "

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