NMDOT Practices “Prevention” as Well as “Repair”

Roadway safety does not always begin with traffic stops, construction zones or emergency response lights. Sometimes it starts with removing a problem before it ever reaches the roadway.

Recently, crews with the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District One Silver City Patrol responded to one such hazard along NM 61, where a dead tree was found overhanging the highway.

According to NMDOT, the tree posed a potential safety concern for motorists traveling through the area.

With permission from the property owner and assistance from the Las Cruces Patrol, which provided a bucket truck for the operation, crews safely removed the tree before it could become a more serious roadway hazard.

The department noted that roadway safety efforts often include preventative work designed to address issues before they lead to crashes, blocked roadways or emergency situations.

While large highway projects often receive the most public attention, smaller maintenance and hazard mitigation operations remain a routine part of keeping New Mexico roads safe and passable for drivers across the state.