ROAD WARRIOR
Traffic signal updates being made at Isleta Boulevard and Camino del Valle SW
State sees 19% drop in traffic fatalities in June, according to data from NMDOT and University of New Mexico
Published
Bernalillo County is reminding South Valley motorists that it is making signal updates at Isleta and Camino del Valle SW.
鈥淭his project will enhance pedestrian and vehicle safety by replacing aging infrastructure and bringing the traffic signal into compliance with current traffic control standards,鈥� Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said in a news release.
Improvements will include the installation of flashing yellow arrow left鈥憈urn signals for north-south traffic, audible pedestrian push-buttons and a closed鈥慶ircuit television camera for traffic monitoring and incident management.
Work began on July 6 and is expected to last through the end of the month, she said.
TRAFFIC FATALITIES: Traffic fatalities across the state dropped almost 19% last month, from 37 in May to 30 in June, according to from the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Bernalillo County led the way with nine traffic fatalities, followed by Eddy and Luna counties with three apiece.
Through the first half of 2026, there have been 207 traffic fatalities. This is down 4.6% from the same time a year ago, 217 traffic fatalities, according to the report.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: The city of Albuquerque was ranked the worst in pedestrian deaths last year.
In 2025, 91 pedestrian deaths were reported in the city. This marks about a 10% decrease from 2024, 102, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association report.
For more, read a story my colleague Matt Reisen wrote on this.
鈥楢 DANGEROUS SITUATION鈥�: Reader Diane Shea said there is a problem at the Eagle Ranch Road and Paseo del Norte intersection.
鈥淭he block of Eagle Ranch north of Paseo heading south is striped for a bike lane,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the only (short) section of that road that has a bike lane. Coming south to Paseo there are two left-turn lanes, two through lanes, and the bike lane. The problem (is) the large number of cars that are turning right onto Paseo. There is no clear indication of which lane they should use. Some cars wait in the right through lane with turn signals on. Other cars drive up the bike lane to make their turn.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a dangerous situation that can be solved with arrows painted on the road.鈥�
FIBER OPTIC WORK: WNM Communications will be installing fiber optic cable from N.M. 90 to the Jack鈥檚 Peak communication tower site.
The installation will increase high-speed broadband capabilities and access for major mobile phone carriers, internet and wireless providers, radio systems, public safety needs and more, .
Work will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday along Gold Gulch Road (Grant County Road 4-12) west from N.M. 90 and on Jack鈥檚 Peak Road (Forest Road 836) up to the tower site.
The project should be finished in mid-August.
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
