Eddy County seeks solutions for traffic speeders in residential areas near U.S. 285
Rumble strips, extra law enforcement patrols and radar speed signs are some traffic control alternatives sought by Eddy County as residents south of Carlsbad deal with increased and speeding traffic through residential areas.
During the Nov. 7 Eddy County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Loving area resident Eric Rios requested commissioners find ways to address cars speeding on Duarte Road.
He said driving on Duarte Road was difficult in the mornings, late afternoons and early evenings due to increased traffic along U.S. Highway 285 from oil and gas activity in southern Eddy County.
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Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns acknowledged New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) improvements along U.S. 285 are impacting the flow of traffic near Loving and Malaga.
“We’ve had conversations (about) diverting traffic through Malaga, block off side streets and divert traffic to Point Road,” he said.
NMDOT's website indicated there was ongoing work for a multiphase project along the highway included roadway and bridge reconstruction and construction of drainage structure extensions near Malaga. In addition, NMDOT was analyzing potential location of a possible new port of entry on U.S. 285 near the Texas State Line, noted the website.
“They’re working slowly but surely. I know its hard dealing with these specific projects. Its growing pains,” Burns said.
Possible solutions for speeding traffic
Rios suggested placing speed bumps on Duarte Road to deal with fast and speeding traffic. Speed bumps, Burns said, are not a solution as they can be a hazard to drivers.
“People dodging, people going around and it looks like Thunderdome out there. As we’re putting up stakes, bricks and cones so they don’t dodge them, which creates more of a hazard,” he said.
Burns said the county was looking at other solutions. District 2 County Commissioner Jon Henry suggested placing rumble strips in strategic places.
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“Rumble strips are an effective countermeasure for reducing roadway departure crashes. The noise and vibration produced by rumble strips alert drivers when they leave the traveled way,” according to a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA) website.
The website noted rumble strips are painted with a retroreflective coating to increase the visibility of the pavement edge at night and during inclement weather conditions.
Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage said flashing radar signs could be a deterrent.
Radar speed signs flash speeds digitally displaying speeds of approaching vehicles in real time, according to California-based Traffic Safety Corporation.
“Studies show radar speed signs produce 10 to 20% reductions in average roadway speeds, and long-term increases in compliance with speed limits,” read the company’s website.
District 4 County Commissioner James “Bo” Bowen said county roads like Duarte were used for agricultural traffic before the oil and gas boom hit Carlsbad.
“Now it’s a hub for oil and gas, people are the problem here,” he said.
“It's everybody that’s out there. It starts with the person behind the wheel,” he said.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County looks for speeding traffic solutions in neighborhoods
