NM 532 Curve Correction Project - New Mexico Department of ...

NM 532 Curve Correction Project Environmental Assessment
During most of the year, NM 532 has little traffic, and traffic flow is acceptable. Drivers tend to be
cautious and drive slowly in response to the steep drop-offs, difficult curves, and lack of sight distance
and passing lanes. Drivers become especially cautious when the roadway is covered in ice and snow.
Traffic increases during peak ski season. The average annualized traffic volume was 663 vehicles per day
in 2007. During ski season, peak hour traffic can reach 1,298 vehicles per hour, and 20-year projections
foresee peak hour traffic volumes of 3,200 vehicles per hour (Smith, 2008).
Forty-eight crashes occurred along NM 532 from 2001 through 2005 based on police reports (see Table
2.1). Additional crashes have occurred on NM 532 but were not reported to the police based on
information provided by local residents. There have been no documented fatality crashes on NM 532.
Crash locations were dispersed along NM 532 although it appears that most crashes occurred at sharp
curves or at the NM 48 intersection.
Table 2.1 2001-2005 Crash Numbers and Locations
Road Section
Number of Crashes
MP 0.0 to MP 4.0 18
MP 4.8 to MP 8.0 11
MP 8.0 to MP 11.9 19
Source: Smith (2008)
2.4 Roadway Conditions
NM 532 from MP 0.0 to MP 12.0 is characterized by steep grades and several sharp curves. NM 532 has
a posted speed limit of 25 mph, but it does not meet current AASHTO design standards for this posted
speed limit. The existing typical section consists of two travel lanes, varying in width from 11 to 12 feet.
The roadway has narrow gravel shoulders of 0 to 2 feet in width. The lane widths are often further
reduced during winter due to snowdrifts and piles of plowed snow. Steep drop-off sections and rocky
near-vertical cliffs exist outside the narrow shoulders, providing little to no room for emergency pull-off
areas.
Adjoining slopes are rocky in many areas and some are unstable. Erosion as a result of the 2012 Little
Bear Fire has undercut portions of the roadway. Shoulder space, guardrail, road striping, and clear zones
are lacking along most of NM 532. The 0-2 foot shoulders are next to either steep drop-offs or vertical
cliff sections. Except for the guardrail improvements constructed in 2008, most of the roadway guardrails
do not meeting AASHTO standards. Many of the drainage culverts are not separated from the roadway
with the minimal acceptable clear zone horizontal distance or guardrail. Any vehicle that accidentally
leaves the roadway surface is likely to encounter a steep drop-off, vertical cliff section, or drainage
culvert.
2.5 Drainage
The NM 532 Project Area is located within the Eagle Creek and Rio Ruidoso watersheds of the Hondo
basin. The steep slopes along NM 532 allow for good roadway drainage with little ponding of water.
Some of the drainage structures need improvement.
2.6 Right-of-way
Most of the NMDOT right-of-way along NM 532 has limited available space for roadway widening
because of steep slopes. The right-of-way is 132 feet wide on land used under a permit from the Lincoln
National Forest. Lands bordering the right-of-way are owned by the Lincoln National Forest.
March 2013 6 CN 2101140