Legislative committee greenlights funding bill for US 380 | Local News

The bill would authorize $350 million over two years to be used from the state general fund to cover the cost of adding alternating passing lanes along three segments of the 84-mile tract of U.S. 380 that extends from mile marker 158, two miles east of Roswell, to the state line with Texas.

Some funds would go toward improving the pavement along that corridor.

State Rep. Candy Ezzell (R-Roswell), a sponsor of H.B. 153 who presented the bill to the committee, noted the project is in the top three of the District 2 New Mexico Department of Transportation office list of priorities.

“This will give the District 2 Office the ability to go in there, finish getting the rights of way in place, and to start the process,” she said.

According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the environmental and engineering investigations the project requires are complete, and it is currently in its study and design phase.

The Legislative Finance Committee, in its analysis of H.B. 153, says the Department of Transportation expects to bring the project to bid in August. Ezzell said the project should take about three years to complete.

Improving the U.S. 380 corridor east of Roswell has long been a high priority for lawmakers and local officials from Chaves and Lea counties.

Supporters of H.B. 153 contend the conditions have deteriorated along the heavily trafficked segment of rural highways used by everything from school buses and ambulances to oil tankers and…