Eddy County outlines $167 million spending plan for future infrastructure projects

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·2 min read

Funding of two major road projects in Eddy County highlighted a five-year spending plan for future infrastructure projects in the County.

Eddy County sought $167 million from fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2028 for road construction, facilities and storm control projects as part of its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP).

Work on the Southeast Loop Road was No. 1 on the ICIP for 2024.

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So far, $6.7 million was funded for the project as Eddy County sought $10 million in 2024 and $15 million in fiscal year 2025, per the ICIP.

Work on the Southeast Loop Road was done in phases along a 13 mile stretch near Carlsbad connecting U.S. Highway 62/180 with U.S. Highway 285.

Eddy County did not seek funds for the Southeast Loop Road for 2026 through 2028, according to the ICIP.

Detour signs occupy different construction sites in Eddy County. The County sought extra money from the State of New Mexico to finish major construction work near Carlsbad during a five-year period.
Detour signs occupy different construction sites in Eddy County. The County sought extra money from the State of New Mexico to finish major construction work near Carlsbad during a five-year period.

The Southeast Loop Road is a three-way partnership between Eddy County, New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and City of Carlsbad, said Eddy County Community Services Director Wesley Hooper.

The second item on Eddy County’s ICIP for fiscal year 2024 was $25 million for construction of an extension along Carrasco Road south of Carlsbad.

Work for the project had not received funding to date as the County sought $2 million for fiscal year 2024, and for 2025 and 2026, $7 million was sough per year. The final year of the project, 2027, Eddy County inquired about $11 million, per the ICIP.

Work on Carrasco Road is another extension of connecting U.S. 285 and U.S. 62/180, the ICIP read.

“I think the prioritization is appropriate,” said Eddy County Manager Allen Davis during the July 19 Eddy County Board of County Commissioners meeting.

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Commissioners approved the ICIP which is administered through the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (NMDFA) Local Government Division, stated NMDFA’s website.

Davis said Eddy County’s ICIP would be useful in future New Mexico legislative sessions as lawmakers use it as a guide for funding projects.

“It goes back to the State record as the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) and other legislators access this plan for everyone in the State,” he said.

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A new judicial complex in Carlsbad, a street sewer in Artesia and improvements to the Eddy County Fire Service Training Complex south of Carlsbad were part of ICIP funding requests placed by Eddy County during the five-year plan.

“The ICIP planning tool encourages entities to develop and update their five-year plan annually which is submitted to the State,” noted NMDFA’s website.

Eddy County Community Services Assistant Director Steve McCroskey said Eddy County’s ICIP was due to NMDFA by Aug. 19.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County outlines infrastructure plans from 2024 through 2028