SW New Mexico News

The guardrail on the south side of a bridge over Garfield Canal on Two Counties Road was damaged a couple of years ago. When County Engineer Mo Moabed looked into repairing it, the cost was prohibitive and the original build plans were not available.

“Lacking the original as-built drawings and plans, we were unsure about how to proceed, without risking further damage to the structure,” Moabed said. That’s when he reached out to the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Assistant District Engineer Earl Franks. “I knew his expertise and resources would be invaluable and he was instrumental in finding the best solution.”

Franks recommended that repairs avoid narrowing the traffic lanes and reducing the bridge’s width to optimize traffic.

After evaluating options of removing or replacing the bridge, “We decided to maintain the bridge and repair the railing to its original standards,” Moabed said, which will extend the bridge’s useful life. The repair on both the north and south sides of the guardrail is slated for completion by June 10.

Franks offered to collaborate with the County’s Engineering Road Department and have his bridge crew perform the work, while County personnel provided traffic control and support as needed.

While the repair will take a few weeks to complete, it was essential to protect the existing structure and properly reinstall utility lines attached to the bridge.

The partnership will continue benefiting residents. Currently underway is another collaboration between Doña Ana County’s Engineering Roads Department and NMDOT. As soon as repairs on Garfield Bridge are completed, crews will begin guardrail repairs on Railroad Bridge on County Road E 89 in Hatch. The 476-ft. bridge, built in 1941, is slated for repairs starting June 10.

“We are grateful for our NMDOT partnership, as this collaborative effort results in safer bridges for both residents and visitors. We thank the crew that repaired Garfield Bridge and appreciate their spirit of partnering with us, saving money while improving our roads' safety,” Moabed said.

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