Regional Officials Celebrate Long Delayed Pinon Hills Extension Project with Gov.

Friday, August 19, 2022 at 3:28 PM

Map of Phase I and Phase II of the Pinon Hills Extension Project.

The state investment will total $39.9 million in ARPA funds appropriated to the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The project has also received $1.5 million in congressionally directed spending for a total commitment of $41.3 million.

From New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Friday, July 19, 2022

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday was joined by local and county officials to announce nearly $40 million in state funding for the Pinon Hills Extension project in Farmington.

First studied more than 20 years ago, the Pinon Hills Extension project is a regionally significant collaboration between the City of Farmington and San Juan County to extend Pinon Hills Blvd. from NM 516 (Main Street), southeast across the Animas River, to connect with County Road 3000, and tie in with Wildflower Parkway. The state investment will total $39.9 million in ARPA funds appropriated to the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The project has also received $1.5 million in congressionally directed spending for a total commitment of $41.3 million.

“After 20 years of planning and consultations, I am excited to announce a state investment of $40 million dollars for the construction of the Pinon Hills Extension project in San Juan County,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “This is one of many critical roads investments the state is making to improve public safety, reduce travel times, and unlock additional economic opportunities for New Mexico communities.”

“I know I join the residents of Farmington and San Juan County in thanking Senators Heinrich and Luján and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury for their work to deliver this transformative funding in the American Rescue Plan Act,” the governor added.

“This is an incredible example of how working collaboratively can yield incredible results for our communities,” said Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett. “I am grateful to Gov. Lujan Grisham and every partner working to make this critical project a reality.”

This additional river crossing will allow quicker response times for emergency services to sections of unincorporated San Juan County and help reduce traffic congestion on the two primary Animas River crossings at County Road 350 and Browning Parkway. The Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization’s long-range plan also identifies the Pinon Hills Blvd. Extension as a possible future freight corridor, further alleviating traffic congestion and mixed traffic in the heavily traveled business areas of Farmington. Phase 1 of construction is scheduled to begin in March of 2023.

More from Local News

Lauren Laws Named Interim Superintendent for Aztec Schools

For 15 years, Lauren Laws has dedicated her career to Aztec Schools, beginning as a Special Education teacher in 2008. In 2010 she transitioned to General Education, where she spent six years in the classroom working with 4th and 5th graders at Park Avenue Elementary while completing work on her Master's Degree. During her tenure at Park Avenue Elementary, she also served a Lead Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Lauren has spent the past three years serving as the Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the district.
Durango Picks Brice Current to be New Police Chief

Brice Current was a former narcotics agent with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office in Aztec, NM. He was hired as Durango's Deputy Police Chief in 2019.
Farmington Schools Hires first Armed Campus Safety Monitor

The FMS Board of Education authorized school security personnel to carry firearms on school premises during their January 9, 2024, meeting. The move paved the way for the hiring of Armed Campus Safety Monitors (ACSMs), former certified law enforcement officers tasked with providing an additional layer of protection for students and staff during emergencies.
City Breaks Ground on Pinon Hills Extension

Farmington Officials gathered with representatives from the NM Department of Transportation and San Juan County to break ground on the long-anticipated Pinon Hills Boulevard Extension Project. San Juan County announced that design work on their section of the project is 90% completed.
Back to Bloomfield: Summers Selected as New Superintendent

Kevin Summers will be returning to the Bloomfield School District as Superintendent, after the retirement of Dr. Kim Mizell at the end of the current school year. Summers' hire makes an opening in the Superintendent's Office in Aztec where he has served for the past three years.
Fort Lewis College Seeks New President/Interim President Named

Fort Lewis College President Tom Stritikus is stepping down to become the President at Occidental College, a four-year liberal arts college in Los Angeles, Calif. Steven Schwartz, Fort Lewis College’s Vice President for Finance and Administration, will serve as interim president effective May 6. He will leave after this year’s Spring Commencement scheduled for Saturday, May 4.