COUNTY News:
Officials with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) advise motorists to plan for traffic delays next Thursday through Friday on East Jemez Road.
DPU will trench and install an electric duct bank across six lanes of traffic west of the Eco Station at 3701 E. Jemez. Two-way traffic will be maintained and DPU will phase the construction over the two-day period to minimize the amount of disruption.
At 7 a.m. Thursday, DPU’s contractor will close the middle eastbound lane on E. Jemez to begin trenching. Eastbound through traffic will merge with exiting Los Alamos National Laboratory traffic turning right onto E. Jemez.
That same morning at 9 a.m. after most of the morning commuters are off the road, DPU’s contractor will close the three westbound lanes north of the median to continue to trench and install the duct bank. These lanes will open just past the construction zone.
Provided asphalt is available, all duct bank work in the middle section of the road will be completed by Thursday evening. If asphalt is not available, DPU’s contractor will cover trenches with steel plates before reopening the middle lanes.
At 7 a.m. Friday, DPU’s contractor will close the outermost eastbound and westbound lanes on E. Jemez to complete the duct bank installation. Three interior westbound lanes and one interior eastbound lane will be open. By Friday evening work will be completed and DPU’s contractor will cover trenches with steel plates and reopen these two lanes, if asphalt is not available.
The lane closures on E. Jemez are part of DPU’s project to install a second Los Alamos Switchgear Substation to improve power reliability for Los Alamos. The electric duct bank will connect the new substation located west of the Eco Station to the townsite.
No interruption of utility services is anticipated while the duct bank is being installed. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout construction. However, there may be a few instances when traffic may be completely stopped for very short durations of time to move equipment.
DPU officials request that motorists anticipate traffic delays and exercise caution while driving by the construction zone. Questions may be directed to the DPU at 505.662.8333 or CustomerCare@lacnm.us.
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) operates the county-owned electric, gas, water and wastewater systems under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities. The Board meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and the public is always welcome. The DPU is funded by rates paid for electric, gas, water and wastewater services and auxiliary fees, and has provided the community with these services for more than 50 years. CustomerCare@lacnm.us 505.662.8333 www.losalamosnm.us/government/departments/UTILITIES.
