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. This week, the state Department of Transportation and local law enforcement are working together to make these roads safer for walkers.
Capt. Terry Delgado of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said that beginning about noon Thursday traffic patrols will increase on U.S. 84-285 when the majority of walkers begin their journey. The increased law enforcement presence, including DWI and traffic enforcement units and checkpoints, will continue through Easter Sunday afternoon.
"We see an increase [in walkers] starting Thursday and safety becomes an issue," said Delgado.
Sheriff's deputies will be assisted by State Police, Española Police Department, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department, and tribal officers from Tesuque, Pojoaque, Nambe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said Delgado. In addition, personnel from volunteer fire departments in Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties will be assisting with first aid services and normal calls for medical assistance.
He said sheriff's deputies will hand out 3,000 glow-in-the-dark sticks to walkers beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at the south Tesuque exit of 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.
In addition, the transportation department will close the right hand lane between NM 599 and the south County Road 73 interchange. The lane closure will provide a buffer zone for walkers from Santa Fe. Motorists are asked to not park or stop their vehicles in that area and walkers should be dropped off at the south County Road 73 interchange, said Karyn Lujan of the transportation department.
Walkers are asked to stay as far to the right as possible on the paved shoulder. They will be channeled through on/off ramps at each interchange between Santa Fe and Cuyamungue. Temporary stop signs will be placed at interchange locations to allow walkers to pass through. At the Cuyamungue interchange on U.S. 84-285, orange barrels and signs will guide walkers away from the highway onto the east frontage road, she said, adding that signs and message boards will be set up on U.S. 84-285 alerting motorists to pedestrians along the highway.
Delgado of the Sheriff's Office 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, 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 event
- Take a flashlight and water
- Dress warmly and in layers, wear comfortable shoes and consider taking a raincoat
- Don't cross onto the roadway
- 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.
--Steve Sandoval