Pinos Altos Road construction causes problems on Bosworth

By Mary Alice Murphy

Courtesy Photos

One business owner contacted the Beat about her concerns about the mess being left behind by the closing of Bosworth at one end and the new entrance into the street off Pinos Altos Road.

Frances Higgins, owner of Pampered Pet Care, said TLC, the construction company in charge of the rehabilitation of Pinos Altos Road, told her the problems were caused by a design oversight, with fixing the drop offs not making it into the plans. The company was not given the blueprints to fix the issues.

With the lowering of elevation, the street no longer drains rain water or snowmelt.

"With the steep drop offs on both sides of the street, the dirt will begin washing into the street," Higgins said.

TLC also told her that she could not do the repairs herself, but because she is a business, she will have to have a commercial contractor do it.

"They had to lower the elevation of Bosworth so it would tie into NM 15," Higgins said. "They built the cut through, but the north end of Bosworth has been blocked off since January. It's been hard for customers to get to me and other businesses on the street."

She said the funding for the overall project came from a federal grant. "Bosworth, when NM 15 construction is completed, will be turned back to the city, and the town is going to have problems on their hands."

Higgins said she has talked to TLC bosses, as well as attempting to talk to the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The only one she has been able to talk to is at the NM DOT District 1 in Deming.

"I've gone ahead alone," she said.

She noted that the Nichols Welding Company's sewer system is no longer connected due to the drop of elevation.

"My sewer goes to Ranch Club Road," Higgins said. "But I don't know how I will get supplies for my business. I'm not sure a semi-truck can get onto the new entrance on Bosworth. I lost my dirt ramp and my dock. I've had to carry 50-pound bags of dog food up the banks. We have 2-foot drop offs from our property to the sidewalk. There is also a four-foot bank where cars can no longer park. I have spent numerous hours on the phone and did talk to the DOT District manager. He said the state is not liable, so the cost of improvements will be on the business owners or the taxpayers. We had to give a 10-foot easement. Now there is no way to access my back alley."

She asked for an estimate of how much it would cost to fix just her issues. TLC gave her an estimate of more than $6,000. If she pays for the work, they could do it while the equipment is still available in the area, before the entire project is completed. Otherwise, she would also have to pay to get the equipment on site.

"I've been told by the DOT officials that I can do a tort claim," Higgins said. "But I figure doing that would cost more than the estimate to make repairs to my property."

She told the Beat she just wanted the public to know what she and the other business owners have been left with.

"I know any project of this size will have consequences," Higgins said. "I don't want to point fingers. Let's work together to fix the issues.

The Beat attempted to call the other businesses. The owner of the car wash, which has had to close, said he would call back, but the next day, he has not called. Messages were left with Mi Casita Restaurant and with Nichols Welding, with no return calls.