REQUESTING IMPROVEMENTS TO OLD UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 66 BETWEEN GALLUP AND RED ROCK.

WHEREAS, the historic old United States highway 66 runs eight miles between Gallup and Red Rock; and

WHEREAS, this road is a major link between outlying communities and the city of Gallup, is used daily to bring commuters to and from work and carries schoolchildren five days a week; and

WHEREAS, the Red Rock amphitheater annually is host to the intertribal ceremonial, an international event that draws tourists from around the world, as well as regularly hosting concerts, shows and other community and state events that attract visitors and create heavy traffic on the old United States highway 66; and

WHEREAS, the road must accommodate increasing traffic from the growing neighborhoods developing near the Sundance area, as well as the communities of Iyanbito, Church Rock, Pinedale and Rio Lobo canyon; and

WHEREAS, this eight-mile stretch is a narrow two-lane road in serious disrepair and in need of widening in order to accommodate its substantial traffic burden; and

WHEREAS, this once-famous highway is the only access road to interstate 40 from the New Mexico state police local headquarters;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state highway and transportation department develop and implement plans to improve and widen the eight-mile stretch of the old United States highway 66 from the city of Gallup to the Red Rock area east of the city from its current two-lane state to a modern four-lane highway; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be sent to the state highway engineer for presentation to the state highway commission.