Caja del Rio Road Construction (Santa Fe, Cochiti: 2013, live, fence)

[solovino1]

I was out on the old route 66 route on the BLM side and the National Guard is doing major road construction. The (dirt) road needed work, but this is looks more pre paving. No answer yet from National Guard public affairs. I find this highly questionable because there is a proposal to mine La Bajada Mesa for gravel and a paved road would be needed. There is also a proposal for a La Bajada National Monument (which I'm not enthused about). So...I see a typical NM practice here: get the infrastructure in place before anyone can anything about it. Ruin any chance for the land to be saved, and La Bajada SHOULD be saved, and you got yourself a mine.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by solovino1

I was out on the old route 66 route on the BLM side and the National Guard is doing major road construction. The (dirt) road needed work, but this is looks more pre paving. No answer yet from National Guard public affairs. I find this highly questionable because there is a proposal to mine La Bajada Mesa for gravel and a paved road would be needed. There is also a proposal for a La Bajada National Monument (which I'm not enthused about). So...I see a typical NM practice here: get the infrastructure in place before anyone can anything about it. Ruin any chance for the land to be saved, and La Bajada SHOULD be saved, and you got yourself a mine.

Try contacting Chuck Vigil, Santa Fe County Road Projects Manager at (505) 992-3018 or cevigil@santafecountynm.gov



From: Santa Fe County : News and Articles


March 27, 2013

Construction to Start on Southern Segment of Caja Del Rio

Santa Fe, NM – March 27, 2013 - The Santa Fe County Road Projects Division would like to notify all residents and businesses that the reconstruction for the southern segment of Caja Del Rio Rd (NM 599 intersection to just past Wildlife Way) will commence on Monday, April 1, 2013 and continue through Fall 2013. Message boards were installed on March 25, 2013 to notify commuters, residences and businesses in this area of the construction start date.

As part of the Caja Del Rio Road Improvements Project, Santa Fe County completed reconstruction of the northern segment of this road. Santa Fe County would like to thank everyone for their patience during the successful completion of the northern segment and thank residents in advance for their patience and cooperation during the southern segment of construction.

If you require additional information about this road work, contact Chuck Vigil, Santa Fe County Road Projects Manager at (505) 992-3018 or cevigil@santafecountynm.gov.

[solovino1]

Pancho_NM I found out that it's road and fence repairs in the Camel Tracks area. In the works since 2011, just started now. Still don't know why the Guard is doing the work.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by solovino1

Pancho_NM I found out that it's road and fence repairs in the Camel Tracks area. In the works since 2011, just started now. Still don't know why the Guard is doing the work.

Salovino1, The New Mexico National Guard is a reserve component commanded by the New Mexico Governor and they are also members of the militia of the United States. The majority of National Guard soldiers and airmen hold a civilian job full-time while serving part-time as a National Guard member. On of U.S. Army engineers missions is building, repairing roads and bridges etc. Good practice for them.

[NMHacker]

So, is it to ruin the land or not?

[solovino1]

I think we're okay on this one. This is not going to be a paved road on the old 66 route to La Bajada Mesa rim. It is limited in scope and does not cross into USFS land. My information is from the BLM environmental impact statement. The proposed mine at the mesa is still alive but apparently review is put off until next year. I suppose the idea behind a national monument in this area (proposed my Mayor Coss) is to provide a countervailing proposal. Not quite sure how this would work out since a large part of the land near by but not on the mesa itself is Cochiti Pueblo. One would assume they would have a whole lot to say about a federal monument.