SANTA FE, N.M. — A long-awaited infrastructure upgrade at one of Santa Fe’s busiest intersections is nearing completion, but local residents remain concerned that the improvements may not go far enough to address ongoing congestion issues.
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Construction at the intersection of Agua Fria Street and South Meadows Road in southwest Santa Fe has been underway for months, targeting a corridor that has struggled to keep pace with rapid population growth and increased traffic demand.
“Most of us that live on 599 or Agua Fria, we avoid this intersection as much as possible because in the mornings, especially during the week, it gets backed up heavily where sometimes you’re waiting at the stoplight 30, 40 minutes at a time,” nearby resident Stephanie Sloman said.
The intersection has long been identified as a bottleneck, particularly during peak commuting hours. Residents say existing infrastructure has failed to keep up with development in the surrounding area, which has seen an influx of housing and population growth in recent years.
As development expands across Santa Fe’s south side, pressure on key transportation routes has intensified. Local residents say the lack of adequate infrastructure has contributed to daily traffic challenges.
“There’s not enough infrastructure in place right now to handle the amount of traffic this particular road is handling,” Sloman said.
Others in the community echoed similar concerns, while expressing cautious optimism that the upgrades could provide some relief.
“It’s been real congested, there’s so much traffic, so many people in this area,” nearby resident Raymond Prada said. “By this getting completed it’s gonna help. They’re building apartments, condos. It’s getting big, and this is what they really needed to open the roads up so the traffic will flow a lot better.”
City officials say the nearly completed project includes a range of improvements designed to enhance safety and mobility. These include new traffic signals, expanded roadways, dedicated turning lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Officials acknowledged the frustrations of residents, particularly regarding the project timeline.
“This part of our community is growing fast and we need to expand with it,” Peter Olson said with the City of Santa Fe. “It’s been a long process but we are very close to finishing this really important southside thoroughfare project. We’re putting our stoplights up and that’s been the big problem. Waiting for what we call the mast arms, they had to be made specifically for this intersection so it’s taken a long time.”
The delay in installing custom traffic signal components contributed significantly to the extended construction schedule, according to the city.
Despite nearing completion, some residents remain skeptical that the upgrades alone will resolve the area’s traffic challenges. Many are already looking ahead to additional improvements, including the potential development of a roundabout at another nearby intersection along Cottonwood Drive.
City officials say construction is expected to wrap up by this summer, marking a key milestone in efforts to modernize transportation infrastructure in one of Santa Fe’s fastest-growing areas.
Originally repored by Natasha Lynn in KRQE.
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