State vows assistance for Eddy County road construction

Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
(From left) New Mexico Department of Transportation Roswell District Engineer Tim Parker looks on as New Mexico Department of Transportation Secretary Michael Sandoval speaks before Eddy County Commissioners Aug. 20.

Officials from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) affirmed support for impending road construction projects in Eddy County.

NMDOT Secretary Michael Sandoval and NMDOT Roswell District Engineer Tim Parker addressed the Eddy County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

“We have a list of priorities that I think are some of the list of priorities that you share,” Sandoval said.

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Sandoval said construction along U.S. Highway 285 from the New Mexico-Texas state line to mile marker 22 was the top priority for the department.

More:Upgrades to Eddy County intersection could take 2 years before construction

“I’m happy to say that we have that fully funded. Planning for the first phase will happen in February 2020,” he said.

The cost of the four-phase project ranges from $115 to $130 million.

Sandoval said the State’s second priority is State Road 31 where it intersects with State Road 128 and U.S. 285.

Eddy County Commission Chairperson Jon Henry (left) and Vice Chairperson Ernie Carlson address New Mexico Department of Transportation officials Aug. 20 in Carlsbad.

“There will be about $110 million coming into this area for the next two years,” he said.

Eddy County District 4 Commissioner Steve McCutcheon asked Parker about the construction time frame.

“We’re looking at doing that particular area as a design and build project,” Parker said. “We have statutory authority to do that if the project is $50 million or more.

“Our goal on the project is to get a shovel in the ground in two and a half years.”

More:285/31 intersection options explained at community meeting

Parker said a request for proposal (RFP) for a contractor should be done around November.

“That particular intersection is rather complex. Because of the railroad tracks and the current design on it,” he said.

Work on State Road 128 is No. 3 on the NMDOT’s priority list, according to Sandoval.

“We freed up from our department about $60 million from the State Road Fund. We’re still about $140 million short to get that completed to Jal,” he said.

District 5 Commissioner Susan Crockett asked Sandoval if Eddy County could approach the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for construction money.

District 5 Eddy County Board of Commissioner Susan Crockett.

“Certainly, we will accept any federal funds,” Sandoval said. “We have approached New Mexico oil and gas companies for public-private partnerships and we think it's appropriate for them as individual companies to come to the table and provide money for construction.

“We’re setting up a package we can provide to them looking at tax incentives (and) looking at payment plans for how they can help contribute to the building of any road in this area.

“Whatever color of money it turns out to be, we will make it work.”

Crockett said conditions favored contacting DOE now.

More:Eddy County adds two critical road projects to improvement plan

“As we have all these partnerships going on and they’ll be the ones left behind and I think they’ll maybe want to jump on them,” she said.

Sandoval said construction work on State Road 18 in Lea County was fourth of the NMDOT’s priority list.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.