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N.M. DOT recommends short‑term fixes at NM‑528/Riverside after weekend crash spike
Summary
State transportation officials told the Rio Rancho governing body that the NM‑528 and Riverside intersection meets signal warrants only on weekends and proposed interim measures — delineators, enhanced striping and a possible beacon — while long‑term signal timing will await future traffic counts and state approval for speed cameras.
New Mexico Department of Transportation officials briefed the Rio Rancho governing body on Dec. 10 about safety work planned at the intersection of NM‑528 and Riverside after an engineering recount and crash review showed a weekend pattern of collisions.
Assistant District Engineer Greg Clark said recent counts show average annual daily traffic on NM‑528 has risen from about 19,520 to roughly 21,500 vehicles. NMDOT analyzed the intersection using METCD (11th edition) signal‑warrant criteria and found the location does not meet signal warrants on typical weekday counts but does meet several warrants on Saturdays and Sundays.
Clark said the department’s crash analysis for 2019–2023 identified 25 crashes at the intersection; 11 occurred on weekend service times that correspond with traffic generated by nearby churches. Because the weekday counts do not meet thresholds, NMDOT proposed short‑term, safety‑focused measures rather than immediate signal installation.
Recommended interim steps include installing flexible delineator “candlesticks” to restrict left turns and encourage right‑in/right‑out movements, additional striping and signage (to be applied in spring), and the possibility of a beacon. NMDOT said crews would install the delineators quickly, let drivers adapt, and then re‑count traffic six months to a year after the changes to determine whether a full signal is warranted.
On speed enforcement, Clark said deployment of fixed speed‑camera systems requires approval by the state commission. NMDOT presented the camera proposal as an informational item to the commission; officials said the commission requested more data and that formal approval would be considered in a later session.
Councilors pressed NMDOT on communications after residents were told at a prior public meeting that cameras could be placed immediately on May 28. Clark apologized for mixed messages and reiterated that any camera deployment requires a filed plan and state‑commission sign‑off.
Council members expressed several operational concerns about the delineator plan: routing drivers to nearby U‑turn locations could concentrate traffic at the Iris intersection adjacent to a fire station and create queuing that might impede emergency response. NMDOT said it had run turning templates showing fire apparatus could complete the maneuvers but committed to further coordination and analysis with Rio Rancho Fire Rescue and police.
Rio Rancho police reported speed‑count data gathered with radar trailers in spring and late summer. Lieutenant Pope said average speeds in monitored segments were near the posted 55 mph limit (northbound 55.6 mph; southbound 54.9–56.1 mph) and that a small share of drivers were about 11 mph over the limit during sample periods. Police and councilors discussed designating NM‑528 as a safety corridor and coordinating enforcement during weekend church services.
NMDOT officials cited precedent for delineator installations on NM‑599 (district examples where delineators reduced left‑turn exposure) and said the devices require ongoing replacement as they are frequently struck. The department offered to attend a public town hall to explain limitations and next steps and said it would return with updated counts after interim measures are in place.
The council did not take formal action during the work session; NMDOT framed the proposals as interim safety measures pending additional data and state approvals.
