The City of Artesia 2005 Street Project was a million dollar project paid for collectively by the City of Artesia, NMDOT Co-op, the Artesia Municipal School District, and Eddy County. The project consisted of sidewalks, concrete curb & gutter, and PMBP pavement construction of selected streets and the City warehouse yard. Removal of existing pavement, grading, and drainage work was also included. This project was on an accelerated schedule due to the fact that the Artesia Public Schools Athletic Complex and a Junior High School were located on a street that needed to be completed before the beginning of the school year. On streets where existing pavement was sufficient, the process of cold recycling and PMBP overlay, (the reprocessing of existing paved streets using existing pavement as base course) was used, thus saving money. New pavement to match existing curb and gutter was then laid. Drainage problems were corrected as needed.

The Nizhoni Boulevard Extension Phase II (total construction cost approximately $4,000,000.) was originally designed based on the County's direction for a northern corridor extension of the existing Nizhoni Boulevard Phase I. Phase II was partially funded by the Federal Government; the project was shelved while additional funding was sought through the NM Legislature. When legislative funds were allocated in early 2006 the Federal funds were set to expire in September 30, 2006. Due in part to a future major hospital along the northern corridor the County opted for a new design south of the future hospital location. Engineers Inc., with the help of the NMDOT District 6 and McKinley County, fast tracked the new design beginning in May 2006 through August 2006. Bids were opened at the beginning of September and the Construction Contract was executed by September 29, 2006; we met the Federal funding deadline and construction began in November 2006. During the NMDOT Final Plan set review in Gallup, Engineers Inc. was complimented on the high quality of the design plans and our ability to meet the aggressive fast track schedule. We were complimented throughout construction by NMDOT District 6 for the comprehensive and well designed plan set.

This project included replacement of sidewalk, landscaping, preparation of new handicap ramps and preparation for new lighting in the downtown business district. The project is constructed in a historic district with high sidewalks. Extensive coordination was required with State Historic Preservation Office, Governors' Committee for the Handicapped, the NMSHTD, the Town of Silver City Main Street Organization, and all affected merchants. Engineers Inc. was able to increase the number of parking spaces available for business. (The innovative design and unique public participation process gained the project the NATIONAL QUALITY INITIATIVE AWARD for the State of New Mexico.) The project is also being used by the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Compliance Board as a model for communities to follow throughout the nation.

Cedar Street is being completed in three phases. The first two phases of the $4,000,000.+ project have been constructed and include curb and gutter, asphalt pavement, earthwork, drainage, lighting and pedestrian and cycling facilities. Engineers Inc. has completed design of Phase III and it will be advertised for construction. Phase I, approximately 2500 feet of the new street was built in conjunction with the new Wal-Mart Super Center. It parallels Interstate 10; and allows cargo trucks alternate access to the loading docks. Construction in this phase included the new Pine Street (US70)/Cedar Street intersection. Phase II, 2650 feet, continued the same typical street section and connected Phase I with Country Club Road. Design in this phase included the future permanent intersection of Country Club and Cedar

Two phases of Village-wide street improvements will be completed. Funds from a State appropriation ($608k) have been used to complete Phase I. Engineers Inc. has completed design and will soon advertise for Phase II funded by GRIP 2 ($889k). Improvements included the resurfacing of existing town streets, widening of the roadway where needed, and addressing local drainage problems. The existing pavement was cold milled; processed with existing base material, placed, and compacted as basecourse; and topped with a 2 inch SP-IV overlay. Proposed work also includes grading of the bar ditch and grass seeding to encourage proper drainage and reduce erosion. In areas where erosion was a problem, erosion control devices were used to slow the loss of soil.

Engineers Inc. has completed a location study, preliminary design, and final design for US 180 through Silver City. The low bid on the project was $6,759,000 which was approximately $1M below the project budget. The project is currently in construction. The Initial Corridor Analysis Phase A) determined the need for the project, defined the full range of viable alternatives, identified socio-economic and environmental constraints and selected alternatives recommended for further study. The Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives (Phase B) screened and refined alterations utilizing the NMDOT Location Study Procedures Guide to properly analyze environmental issues, cultural resource values, engineering standards, and the needs of the traveling public in a cost-effective manner. Our Team worked in conjunction with a Study Team comprised of town, county, regional, and state agency representatives and a Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC).