Highway department stops construction on east side of U.S. 84-285 Every year on Good Friday, thousands of people walk to Chimayo in observance of the Easter holiday. Many of them walk along heavily used roads, such as NM 502 and 503 and U.S. 84 - 285.With ongoing construction of U.S. 84-285 between Santa Fe and Pojoaque, walkers and motorists will need to be extra alert on Friday.
Captain Terry Delgado of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said that beginning about noon Thursday traffic patrols will be increased on U.S. 84-285 when the majority of walkers begin their journey. The increased law enforcement presence - including DWI and traffic enforcement units - will continue through Easter Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff's deputies will be assisted by State Police, Española Police Department, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's office, and tribal officers from Tesuque, Pojoaque, Nambe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said Delgado. Personnel from volunteer fire departments in Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties also will be assisting.
"We see an increase [in walkers] starting Thursday and safety becomes an issue," said Delgado.
He said sheriff's deputies will hand out 3,000 glow-in-the-dark sticks to walkers beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Camino Encantado and U.S. 84-285; the NM 503 and U.S. 84-285 intersection; and at the NM 106 and NM 76 intersection. The glow sticks make walkers more visible to motorists at night, Delgado said.
FNF Construction Co. of Tucson, the general contractor rebuilding 12 miles of U.S. 84-285, is building a pedestrian walking path on the east side of U.S. 84-285 from Tano Road to the southern entrance to Tesuque. Walkers are being asked to use the pedestrian path, which has been graded and marked with signs, or walk on County Road 73, the main road through Tesuque, to avoid construction.
In a second construction zone around Gabriel's Restaurant, walkers will be directed to a pedestrian path on the east side of U.S. 84-285. Both construction zones will be illuminated for pedestrian safety. The highway department also is urging walkers to begin their walk from Pojoaque or from an open space north of County Road 73.
"We realize that the pilgrimage to Santuario de Chimayo traditionally goes [through] U.S. 84-285," said Robert Bency, project manager for the road project. "This year, however, we're asking that people work with us to make the pilgrimage as safe as possible for everyone."
Delgado suggested that walkers purchase reflective tape and apply it to clothing or wear reflective safety vests over clothing. "If you have some type of safety vest or anything that is reflective or will illuminate the body, we recommend you wear that," he said. Delgado also urged people making the annual walk not to smoke, or to discard cigarettes in proper containers and not to use any flammable devices.
Motorists should reduce speeds and drive as far away from the road shoulder as possible, said Delgado. "Pay attention to speed and your driving and don't drink and drive," he said, adding, "Hopefully we'll have enough of a presence out there that we won't have too many problems."
Delgado also provided these safety tips for walkers:
- wear bright clothing, especially Thursday night, traditionally the busiest evening during the weeklong religious event;
- take a flashlight and water;
- dress warmly and in layers and wear comfortable shoes;
- walk on the east side of the concrete barrier and don't cross onto the roadway. Walkers shouldn't use the median that divides four-lane U.S. 84-285;
- walk in groups of at least three or more for safety reasons.
"We're trying to make this as safe a pilgrimage as we can," said Delgado.