The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) disputed a report released by the nonprofit transportation research group TRIP (The Road Information Program) that found that 25% of New Mexico’s roads are in poor condition, and 16% of bridges are either structurally deficient or obsolete.
The TRIP report also contended that NMDOT will provide 46% of the annual funding needed to maintain state roads and bridges.
“Without additional funding at the local, state and federal levels, New Mexico’s roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate, and the costs passed along to drivers will increase even further,” Carolyn Kelly, TRIP’s associate director, said at a press conference.
Transportation Secretary Tom Church said the report’s research conclusions are inaccurate because it included municipal and county roads, which are in worse condition than those maintained by the state.
State inspections show good pavement conditions for 87% of interstate highways and 70% of all other state highways, DOT said in a written statement. For state-owned bridges, 95% are in good condition, it said.
NMDOT said it has $614.8 million in infrastructure work planned for 2016 including the agency’s top priority: the I-25/Rio Bravo Interchange in Albuquerque.
