Saga of the barrels on Old Las Vegas Hwy

We have had to deal with the dangerous situation of the orange barrels on OLVH for the past several months. They came and went blocking the bike lane and lately have prolifically spawned presenting an un-acceptable impediment to safe bike riding. The short version of the story is that I contacted the supplier, AWP Safety Co, and requested that they move the barrels out of the bike lane. Furthermore, there is no signage explaining what the barrels are supposed to indicate. I received a rather arrogant response saying that they have a legal permit from the NMDOT to place the barrels and it is not really a bike lane, it is a shoulder. A wrong, mission-creating response! I promptly contacted the NMDOT in a lengthy email explaining the situation in detail and requested that the “legal” permit be reviewed because of the safety hazard this company is causing for many cyclists.

I received a response from the NMDOT the next day, a good, correct response. The permit was reviewed and changed as follows and the company was notified: 1. The barrels cannot extend more than one mile and have to be where the men are working; 2. There must be signs placed when men are working, which has been not done in violation of the original permit; and 3. The barrels will be placed by the shoulder, out of the bike lane except where the wire guard rail is. (I pointed out that the barrels and wire guard rail are redundant.)

So, that should be the new situation IF the company complies with the revised permit which will make this stretch of OLVH safer for all.  If anyone who uses OLVH frequently notes that the above conditions are not being followed, please let me know and I will make a report to the NMDOT of non-compliance.

Thanks