Dear Mr. Know-It-All:
The recently completed Piñon Hills extension project by the City of Farmington is a nice, smooth ride from East Main Street south across the Animas River. That got me thinking about the other end of the boulevard/by-pass. Weren’t there plans to widen Piñon Hills to four lanes between Butler Avenue and 30th Street? What’s the latest on that?
Signed,
Cruisin’ Susan
Dear Susan,
Mr. Know-It-All seems to remember discussions about that as well. This project is mentioned briefly in the Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization 2045 plan, which was compiled back in 2020. It’s listed as a medium to long-term project, but seeing that it took some 30 years to complete the Piñon Hills Extension on the east side, don’t hold your breath for anything to happen to the roadway in the West. In fact, Mr. Know-It-All recently had a discussion with Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett, who mentioned that this widening idea has never made it to any formal city planning documents. It also seems that, at the moment, traffic volume on that stretch of Piñon Hills Boulevard is manageable and nowhere near the level of traffic from Butler Avenue to the east.
So, how does an entity like the city decide what projects they want to focus on? We all have wish lists, and the city is no exception. Except they call theirs by a different name, which is the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (FY2027-2031), it just kinda rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
This plan lists 28 projects of all shapes and sizes. The mayor pointed out that they are in no particular order, which makes sense. Some could be funded simply by grants, others may need a mixture of local and state money, and some may be a pie-in-the-sky nice-to-have dream. In looking at all of the projects, the total price tag is a whopper: $128,830,883.27. Okay, I added that $0.27 just to see if you were paying attention.
Some projects would be flashy and noticeable such as improvements to the skate park at Brookside Park, renovating the Farmington Aquatic Center, new trails, and park improvements. Other projects are less visible, but still necessary to keep the city running smoothly. One of the most expensive items ($20,000,000) is the Lake Farmington Infrastructure project, and with that raising the lake spillway 5 feet ($4,000,000). These projects may get moved higher on the priority list after a recent report found a corroding pipe at the Lake Farmington dam. The story was reported recently by my Tri City Record colleague, Debra Mayeux. By the way, the city if also looking at the feasibility of raising the level of the dam at Farmington Lake by as much as 25 feet. That would increase the amount of water the lake could hold, and thereby increase the amount of water storage the city has for residents and businesses. In drought years like this, having a stable water supply to rely on in the summer is a great insurance policy to have. Other projects include storm sewer upgrade for the Rancho de Animas neighborhood, water pumps, intakes, and generators, and a crime and forensic lab for the police department. I certainly haven’t listed all 28 projects, but I think you get the idea.
I’m sorry you won’t be zipping along four-lanes of Piñon Hills Boulevard from Butler Avenue to 30th Street anytime soon, but if you really have the need to drive among orange barrels in a construction zone, keep traveling through the streets of our fine city this summer, and before to long, you’ll be sure to find some!
Mr. Know-It-All is Scott Michlin, the general manager of KSJE 90.9FM community-supported radio at San Juan College. When he’s not answering questions here or on the radio, you might find him teaching public speaking or mass media classes at San Juan College, or serving on the board of directors for San Juan United Way, Presbyterian Medical Services, or the San Juan Symphony.
If you have a question about something in San Juan County, drop him a line at SMichlin@tricityrecordnm.com. If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows someone who does, and you’ll read about it here in the pages of the Tri-City Record!