Department of Transportation)
Above, A motor grader operator pushes soil over Geogrid during reconstruction work on N.M. 152 earlier this month. The road is set to reopen this week after almost two months of closure.
By JOHN SONG
Daily Press Correspondent
N.M. 152 over Emory Pass in the Black Range is estimated to be reopened by Friday, according to officials with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
In March, the NMDOT closed N.M. 152, the “Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway,” from milepost 15 near San Lorenzo to milepost 40 west of Kingston due to a potential roadway failure. Large cracks in the asphalt were found close to a hairpin curve between mile markers 33 and 34 on the east side of Emory Pass in Sierra County.
Inspection by a state engineer determined that the soil under the roadway had become overly saturated due to our wet winter, and NMDOT officials said the abundance of moisture between the roadway and the original roadbed beneath caused expansion and the subsequent large cracks.
According to Ami Evans, NMDOT public information officer, a heavy maintenance crew had to excavate nearly 250 feet of the roadway and affected material to a depth of 8 feet. The crew then began backfilling the road bed with four “lifts” of bed material, after each of which the roadway bed had to be compressed by rolling. Repairs are being reinforced with Geogrid plastic webbing to prevent a roadway failure again in this area.
The crew is now completing backfilling of the affected area, and paving was scheduled for this week.
Area residents reacted with excitement.
“Not only is New Mexico 152 an important artery for local businesses and residents, but it is also a scenic work of nature’s art,” said Black Range Lodge B&B owner Catherine Wanek.
Businesses in both Kingston and Hillsboro have been hit hard by the roadway problems and subsequent closure, she reported. The reopening is timely for her, since the Black Range Lodge will host a star party Saturday night, and she expressed relief that the astronomer “star guide” and attendees for the nighttime party who live in Grant County will have a much shorter route to travel.
Tourists and outdoors enthusiasts also seemed delighted by the news.
Mimbres resident Karen Whitlock said, “Yay, since I go to either Elephant Butte or Caballo lakes at least once a week for kayaking. Going around by Deming to Hatch adds over a half-hour each way.”
“This has been a great effort by NMDOT, and we are very excited to be able to travel along a stunning route once more,” said Eloy Medina, Grant County commissioner for District 2, which abuts Sierra County. “A huge thanks to everyone that was involved to help us enjoy the beauty of our state.”
John Song may be reached at jhsnm@zianet.com.
