Drivers will have to find another way to the West Side of Española after the Oñate Bridge was closed on Saturday for an indefinite amount of time.
The City of Española and Rio Arriba County shared a New Mexico Department of Transportation press release on Friday to their social media page, announcing the bridge closure.
“Out of an abundance of caution and with public safety as its top priority, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) will close the historic Oñate Bridge in Española at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, ahead of the anticipated monsoon season,” Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic, the NMDOT communications director wrote.
The NMDOT began monitoring the bridge in 2019 after an underwater inspection showed erosion at a pier. A follow-up inspection in January of this year found there was more deterioration, which prompted additional hydraulic monitoring, which confirmed the need to take action, the press release said.
Engineers will address the ongoing concerns regarding erosion of the river bed around one of the piers, that could pose a risk when the river flow is high, the release said.
“In recent months, NMDOT’s Bridge Bureau, Drainage Bureau and District Five collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to evaluate the bridge’s condition and explore options for continued monitoring,” the release said. “A joint assessment in June with FHWA scour experts resulted in the decision to close the bridge prior to any significant rainfall events.”
The bridge is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, which means drivers trying to get to the West Side must use either the Santa Clara Bridge or the Valdez Bridge. Until further evaluations and potential mitigation efforts are explored, the bridge will remain closed.
The sudden closure was a surprise to many, including city officials like District 4 City Councilor Sam LeDoux, who posted on his Facebook page Friday. He said in response to a question asking when the city of Española became aware of the closure that he was “made ware of it when the public was. I’m not sure when the Mayor was made aware. I was not given any heads up.”
Mayor John Ramon Vigil said he was first made aware of the bridge closure on Thursday morning, two days before the action was taken. However, he said at that time, it was only being looked at as a precautionary measure.
“I wasn’t informed it would actually be closing until late Friday morning, with the closure set for Saturday morning,” Vigil wrote in an email response to an inquiry about the closure. “The City has been a strong partner with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna throughout this whole process. The Oñate Bridge, built in 1941, is historically significant to our Valley and the development of the City. For many decades, it was the sole river crossing for our community and holds deep sentimental meaning, especially for West Side residents. I personally grew up next to the bridge and have seen firsthand how the heavy semi-truck traffic has contributed to its deterioration over the years.”
Vigil said closing any one of the three bridges in town will disrupt travel, but also “I strongly believe this will impact businesses and families on the West Side,” he wrote.
“At an upcoming meeting, the Governing Body will be taking up a resolution urging the State Department of Transportation to address and remediate the structural issues as soon as possible. I’ll also be working with Rio Arriba County to pursue a similar resolution of support.”
The impact of the detour was felt Monday, as the Los Alamos Highway/Paseo de Oñate intersection remained clogged with traffic throughout the day and became much worse in the late afternoon as commuters from Los Alamos made their way to Española.
The city will host a community meeting regarding the bridge closure at 6 p.m. June 18 at the Misión. NMDOT officials are expected to be in attendance.