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A resident of Grants attached a “Get Well Soon” balloon to the downed traffic light at the intersection of Santa Fe Avenue and NM Highway 53. The traffic light was knocked down in early May after a high-speed police pursuit. City residents have been dealing with the aftermath ever since, with city leadership working through supply chain issues to get a new light pole installed. Courtesy Photo
GRANTS, N.M. – On May 11 of this year, a vehicle attempting to elude Grants Police Department slammed into the westbound traffic light, and a light pole, on US 53 at Santa Fe Avenue. The destroyed traffic light has left the busy intersection with stop signs and questions for seven months.
Most questions center around when we will see a replacement and why has this issue taken so long to address. The answer is government bureaucracy.
The City of Grants, like every government entity, has processes and procedures to follow. The rules are clear on the proper steps to be taken before repairs can begin. Although Santa Fe Ave is part of Route 66, a statefunded road, the city is still responsible for specific maintenance and upkeeps, and traffic signals fall under the city’s responsibility Grants City Manager Donald Jaramillo, along with his administrative assistant, broke down the procedures to replace the light. There are two parts of the signal that must be replaced; the pedestal on which the arm pole sits and the arm containing the signals.
The city needed two quotes for insurance purposes, and on May 20 they received a quote to replace the traffic signal from Bixby Electric at $92,081.50, and a second quote came from MWI at $90,788.
After the traffic light was demolished, crews verified the damage and the need for replacement. Insurance agencies were then notified. Because the cost of the light is over $20,000, it needed to go before the city council for approval.
Although the city council approved the replacement, insurance adjusters advised the city to not start work on the project until all money was released from the insurance company. In turn, the city cannot order replacement parts until insurance adjusters give approval. Mr. Jaramillo stated he asked if a used or new traffic signal was stored somewhere, but none were found.
The pedestal should arrive on December 19, and the arm in mid-January. Mr. Jaramillo stated the new light should be completed at the end of February or the beginning of March.
Once this project is completed, insurance will refund $80,566 to the city with an actual cost between $10,000$20,000 put out by the city.
Government and insurance processes stretched the time frame to fix the issue and the city tried to find another traffic signal while waiting for insurance adjusters and government processes and procedures to move forward. Mr. Jaramillo said this involved multiple entities and some residents in the community who found humor by placing “Get Well Soon” balloons and other tokens where the traffic light once stood.
Another positive note is that no accidents have been reported at the intersection since it has turned into a 4-way stop using stop signs.