Arnold Street paving project begins, drivers urged to expect delays

Drivers on Arnold Street faced daily disruptions as the City of Gallup moved ahead with milling and paving work along the stretch from West Aztec Avenue to the cul-de-sac. The project began June 15 and was scheduled to run through June 26, with crews on site from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The city asked residents, businesses and visitors not to park on the street during the project. Vehicles left parked in the work zone could be towed at the owner’s expense, and officials urged motorists to expect delays and use alternate routes whenever possible. For a neighborhood that depends on curb access for deliveries, commutes and everyday errands, the paving work meant added planning for anyone trying to move through the block during the two-week construction window.

The project also fit into a wider effort by Gallup to keep up with basic street maintenance. The Public Works Department says it handles street maintenance, engineering, project management, building construction and maintenance, along with the Gallup Municipal Airport. Its Streets and Storm Drainage division lists roadway maintenance and repair, pothole repair, pavement crack sealing and pavement seal coating among its responsibilities, underscoring that the Arnold Street job was part of a broader city program rather than an isolated fix.

That broader push has taken on added importance as Gallup works on a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan designed to help the city meet federal requirements for future Safe Streets and Roads for All funding. Public Works Director Robert Hamblen has said one of the city’s continuing problems is long-standing right-of-way encroachments and other roadway issues. The city has also announced or carried out similar milling and paving work on Sagebrush Lane, Rehoboth Drive, Green Avenue, Stagecoach Road and Aztec Avenue in recent months.

Residents with questions or concerns could contact the Gallup Public Works Department/Engineering Office on the second floor of City Hall, 110 W. Aztec Ave. The department lists (505) 863-1290 as its main number, and the notice also provided (505) 726-2041 for project questions.