SENATE MEMORIAL 36

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Lynda M. Lovejoy

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF INSTALLING CENTER MEDIAN GUARDRAILS ON RURAL UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 550 FOR PUBLIC AND HUMAN SAFETY.

     WHEREAS, United States highway 550 runs from Bernalillo to Colorado, connecting Albuquerque to northwestern New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, United States highway 550 moves a great deal of high-speed traffic on a daily basis; and

     WHEREAS, rural United States highway 550 is one hundred thirty-eight miles from Bernalillo to Bloomfield; and

     WHEREAS, opposite-direction crashes include head-on collisions and opposite-direction sideswipes; and

     WHEREAS, a head-on collision is defined as an accident involving the two front ends of two vehicles hitting each other, occurring due to a party driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road and in the opposite direction of traffic; and

     WHEREAS, an opposite-direction sideswipe is defined as a crash that occurs when the vehicles' sides or mirrors come into contact due to a party driving on the wrong side of the road and in the opposite direction of traffic; and

     WHEREAS, ninety-three opposite-direction crashes, including head-on collisions, have occurred on United States highway 550 in the past five years, including six fatal crashes, forty-eight injury-only crashes and thirty-nine opposite-direction sideswipe crashes; and

     WHEREAS, four of the ninety-three accidents were reported as alcohol-related; and

     WHEREAS, increased safety measures need to be taken to prevent further head-on collisions and to help ensure the safety of all drivers; and

     WHEREAS, many head-on collisions occur between Cuba and Nageezi; and

     WHEREAS, the installation of a semirigid W-beam barrier or a rigid concrete wall barrier would prevent these opposite-direction crashes;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of installing center guardrails on rural United States highway 550 to prevent opposite-direction crashes and report its findings to the appropriate interim legislative committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of transportation.

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