Las Cruces council OKs road, airport improvements

Sun-News report

LAS CRUCES - Improvements to a major taxiway at Las Cruces International Airport will soon be starting after the Las Cruces City Council awarded a $4.47 million contract Monday to an El Paso construction company to do the work.

The seven-member council unanimously voted to approve the contract for Jordan Construction, of El Paso. The contract also selected Delta Airport Consultants to provide management services during the project, and the council's action also approved acceptance of a $144,312 New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) grant that will help pay for the work.

In a separate matter, the council also awarded a $440,620 contract to Woolpert, Inc., to develop an electronic airport layout plan, which city officials anticipate will be a great aid in future planning, and potential expansion, of the airport, on the city's West Mesa.

The council also approved changes to two planned unit developments (PUD), the Dave Timski PUD and Good Samaritan Village II. They replace a single planned unit development of more than 28 acres, that until Monday had been known as Remington Estates.

The Timski PUD encompass a little more than 15 acres, and will be a mixed-use project including limited commercial space, office and multi-family residential units. The Good Samaritan Village II plan will be on slightly more than 13 acres, adjacent to the Timski PUD, and will include an assisted-living facility, offering apartments, townhouses, nursing care and other related uses. A limit of 200 dwelling units would be built.

The council also approved an agreement with NMDOT that stipulates the city will pay for electricity and maintenance costs for traffic signals and street lights on a portion of Engler Road, between Elks Road and Del Rey Boulevard. Early next year, NMDOT will begin work to extend Engler Road underneath Interstate 25, between Elks and Del Rey.