Monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Cibola County but hit the eastern part of the county especially hard. County roads were washed out and the bridge to the village of Moquino was destroyed.
The Moquino bridge is the only access connecting the village to the rest of the county. Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher said when the bridge went down it created an emergency. Helicopters and EMS were put on standby to get people out if needed. The other issue involving emergency services was a fire in the western end of the county while flooding devastated the eastern end.
Mrs. Fletcher stated crews went out and devised a temporary route next to the bridge for citizens to get into and out of the village. Before a new bridge is to be built, the county had to pay for a geological and technological survey to be conducted. The process involved obtaining a core sample 70 feet beneath the surface to certify the ground will properly support the weight of the bridge and the traffic that will cross it.
Cibola County wanted to plan a bridge design for longevity and durability. The county decided an Acrow bridge would be best for Moquino. Acrow bridges are versatile, easy to assemble, and cost-effective metal bridges. This bridge will be constructed in Washington State by a company that builds military bridges and then shipped to the area; the lifespan of the bridge due to its design should last up to 75 years.
The former bridge, a culvert-style asphalttopped crossing, was susceptible to severe damage from repeated heavy flooding. The cost of the new bridge will total $2.4 million, and the time frame for completion is slotted for summer.
Ms. Fletcher stated the one problem facing the construction of the new bridge is finding a company willing to take the job because companies are inundated with work. There is so much work close to home companies may not want to commute to rural areas.
Another obstacle facing the county is compiling information on all bridges and roads. There are 343 miles of roads in Cibola County and flooding washes out many of these roads. There are currently six roads being surveyed for upgrades. The decision to go from gravel to chip seal (gravel and oil) or to paved.
More data is needed, and Cibola County has no records pertaining to most roads since its creation in 1982 after separating from Valencia County.
The county has prioritized the construction of the Moquino bridge. A process that normally takes three to four years will be completed in a year. Cibola County continues to look for solutions with drainage, roads, and bridges. The process takes time, but the county has made significant headway in finding longterm solutions.