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Curry County OKs $60,569 for short-term safety work at US 70 and County Road 4 after plant raises concerns
Summary
After a presentation from Southwest Cheese about frequent near-misses and a morning collision, the Curry County Commission approved a $60,569.22 county-funded concrete turn-radius project and related improvements while the New Mexico DOT works on a pledged northbound acceleration lane.
The Curry County Commission voted Tuesday to authorize immediate county-funded improvements to the intersection of U.S. 70 and County Road 4 after hearing from Southwest Cheese executives who described recurring collisions and near-misses at the crossing.
Shane Drake, senior director of site operations for Southwest Cheese, told the commission the plant—now one of the largest cheese and whey processing facilities in North America—relies on that intersection for hundreds of daily truck movements and has observed “near misses all the time” at the turning radius. Drake said the plant processes “over 14,100,000 pounds of milk a day” and described repeated shoulder failures, a lack of lighting, and limited turning room for semis.
Commissioners discussed prior DOT studies and interim county fixes. Commissioner Seth Martin and road staff recommended replacing the asphalt at the turning radii with heavy-duty concrete and repairing the immediate entrance to improve safety while the state considers a larger project. County road staff reported a formal cost estimate of $60,569.22 for concrete turning-radius work, restriping and related site preparation.
Chairman Brad Bender moved the measure and Shane Drake seconded. The commission approved the motion by voice vote; county staff will submit the wage decision and schedule work contingent on contractor availability. Commissioners and presenters said New Mexico Department of Transportation representatives had given a verbal commitment to add a northbound acceleration lane in the coming year, which county officials said would complement the local improvements.
The action is intended as a near-term safety improvement rather than the state-level reconstruction that would require right-of-way work and longer timelines. Road staff and the presenting company said continued monitoring and further state coordination remain necessary.
What’s next: County staff will proceed with the $60,569.22 contract process and coordinate with DOT on the acceleration-lane timetable.
