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Hazardous Road Weather
Flooding, wind, freezing rain, snow. All though New Mexico winters are mild they still threaten to create dangerous driving conditions and concern about access to work, school and business.
This guide informs roadway users about the Village of Los Lunas storm response plans. It also provides tips for motorists and residents to help keep themselves safe.
The Village of Los Lunas coordinates winter road operations with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and Valencia County Road Department.
WHO TO CALL?
To request help or report a road hazard within the Village of Los Lunas:
PRIORITIES
The Village of Los Lunas is committed to building and maintaining our transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users and operating the Village roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
The Village of Los Lunas maintains about 52 miles of roadway throughout the Village. Village staff inspects all the roadways for weather-related hazards either during, after, or in anticipation of a storm and have identified priority routes that provide access to critical facilities, emergency services and arterial roadways. These priority routes are the focus of our response to a winter storm event or emergency.
The roadways identified as emergency transportation routes receive attention first. After the emergency transportation routes are cleared, the remaining collector routes will be serviced. Residential and local access roads are serviced only after arterial and collector routes have been cleared.
NMDOT maintains and is responsible for NM 6, NM 314, NM 47, NM 263 and Interstate 25; The Village provides support in assisting with snow, flooding and sweeping maintenance of these roads but is the sole responsibility of NMDOT.
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE
Weather forecasts issued by the National Weather Service or other reporting agencies are considered to determine an appropriate response to a storm or other emergency event.
If the event develops during regular working hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm), the Community Services Department management dispatches personnel and equipment as needed, under direction of the Department Director. If an event develops outside regular working hours, the on-call staff is responsible for calling in personnel and dispatching equipment. During extended events the Street Division may operate on a 24-hour basis.
Flooding
High water warning signs are posted when water covers part of a traffic lane, but the hazard can be avoided without creating a danger to traffic. Road closure barricades are set up when traffic lanes in one direction are covered with water or when water is flowing across the roadway creating dangerous driving conditions.
Ice & Snow
When ice or snow cause roads to be slippery, roads may be sanded to improve traction. A clean, finely graded crushed aggregate is mechanically spread at intersections, curves, on hills and other problem areas, at the discretion of the equipment operator. Sanding does not melt ice or snow.
This guide informs roadway users about the Village of Los Lunas storm response plans. It also provides tips for motorists and residents to help keep themselves safe.
The Village of Los Lunas coordinates winter road operations with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and Valencia County Road Department.
WHO TO CALL?
To request help or report a road hazard within the Village of Los Lunas:
- Life-threatening - emergency response: 911
- Hazardous road conditions
- Nonemergency response: 505-865-9130
- or after hours 505-463-6504 or 980-4510
- State highways - New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT): 505-864-7250 or 239-8316
- Road Conditions for New Mexico and surrounding states. http://nmroads.com/
- NM Road Advisory Hotline 800-432-4269
- All other roads in unincorporated Valencia County Road Operations: 505-866-2473
PRIORITIES
The Village of Los Lunas is committed to building and maintaining our transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users and operating the Village roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
The Village of Los Lunas maintains about 52 miles of roadway throughout the Village. Village staff inspects all the roadways for weather-related hazards either during, after, or in anticipation of a storm and have identified priority routes that provide access to critical facilities, emergency services and arterial roadways. These priority routes are the focus of our response to a winter storm event or emergency.
The roadways identified as emergency transportation routes receive attention first. After the emergency transportation routes are cleared, the remaining collector routes will be serviced. Residential and local access roads are serviced only after arterial and collector routes have been cleared.
NMDOT maintains and is responsible for NM 6, NM 314, NM 47, NM 263 and Interstate 25; The Village provides support in assisting with snow, flooding and sweeping maintenance of these roads but is the sole responsibility of NMDOT.
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE
Weather forecasts issued by the National Weather Service or other reporting agencies are considered to determine an appropriate response to a storm or other emergency event.
If the event develops during regular working hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm), the Community Services Department management dispatches personnel and equipment as needed, under direction of the Department Director. If an event develops outside regular working hours, the on-call staff is responsible for calling in personnel and dispatching equipment. During extended events the Street Division may operate on a 24-hour basis.
Flooding
High water warning signs are posted when water covers part of a traffic lane, but the hazard can be avoided without creating a danger to traffic. Road closure barricades are set up when traffic lanes in one direction are covered with water or when water is flowing across the roadway creating dangerous driving conditions.
Ice & Snow
When ice or snow cause roads to be slippery, roads may be sanded to improve traction. A clean, finely graded crushed aggregate is mechanically spread at intersections, curves, on hills and other problem areas, at the discretion of the equipment operator. Sanding does not melt ice or snow.