THE STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS JUST ABOUT DONE WITH A PROJECT TO PREVENT MAJOR TRAFFIC JAMS ON I-40 WEST OF THE BIG-I. SPOKESPERSON MELISSA DOSHER SAYS THEY EXPECTED TO WRAP THE PROJECT TUESDAY NIGHT, REPLACING PERMANENT BARRIERS WITH MOVEABLE ONES MADE OF STEEL TO GET CRASH VEHICLES OFF THE INTERSTATE.
DOSHER TELLS US THEY STARTED WORKING ON THIS AFTER A MAN IDENTIFED AS NATHANIEL SHIPMAN DROVE A STOLEN BUS IN 2012 …DROVE IT TO GRANTS THEN BACK TO ABQ ON I-40 … AND CRASHED. SHE SAYS HE CRASHED BETWEEN THE COORS INTERCHANGE AND RIO GRANDE, CAUSING TRAFFIC TO BE BACKED UP FOR HOURS AS POLICE CONDUCTED THEIR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
THE WAY THE BARRIERS ARE CONFIGURED NOW, POLICE WILL BE ABLE TO SLIDE THEM APART TO MOVE CRASH WRECKS OFF I-40. DOSHER SAYS THEY STILL NEED TO DO A TRIAL RUN, BUT THE NEW BARRIERS COULD BE READY BY THIS WEEKEND.
