First Street and Florida Avenue realignment on track

ALAMOGORDO — Construction crews are on schedule with the First Street and Florida Avenue realignment project.

"The project's been going really well," said Project Manager Nancy Beshaler. "We haven't had any big issues or big problems."

Mesa Verde Enterprises Inc., the contractor behind the nine-month project, is unfolding the realignment in three phases. The first phase was the South Florida Avenue demolition and reconstruction, the second phase is demolishing and rebuilding east and westbound lanes of First Street and the third phase is the demolition and reconstruction of North Florida Avenue.

"They are still working on the South Florida piece and the eastbound lanes of First Street," Beshaler said. "We got slowed down a little bit trying to avoid some existing utilities, trying to move around them."

During the first phase, traffic was diverted from the South Florida Avenue access to First Street and rerouted through Arapaho Trail and Mimosa Avenue.

"They'll be paving South Florida probably the first week in June," Beshaler said. "South Florida will open up but not all the way to First Street. South Florida will open up to First Street probably the end of June. The reason is they have to get the eastbound lanes of First Street paved before they can open it to people coming all the way through."

Beshaler said the traffic will then be shifted over to the eastbound lanes of First Street and Mesa Verde will begin construction on the westbound lanes, this will happen around early July.

"(Mesa Verde) would really like to work on the westbound lanes of First Street and North Florida at the same time but they're really conscious of Daylight Donuts and making sure people can get in and out of there," Beshaler said. "They're going to have to figure out how that's going to work when they get there."

City begins First and Florida realignment project

As part of the project, First National Bank, the old MVD building and a private residence were demolished. Beshaler said the old bowling alley area on South Florida Avenue has been the staging area during this project. The last demolition will be to break down that concrete slab left there, which will happen at the very end of the realignment project.

The realignment project must be completed by the end of the year, Beshaler said Mesa Verde is on track to complete it mid-November.

"I understand the traffic control on First Street is very constricted, but that's really driven by safety," Beshaler said. "We can't have a lot of openings along First Street because if you have too many people stopping then there's potential for rear-end accidents. I just ask residents for their patience and understanding. People are taking it slow and following the speed limit, which is good and we appreciate that."

Project questions or issues may be directed to Beshaler at 439-4230 or via email at nbeshaler@ci.alamogordo.nm.us.