By KRWG News
Las Cruces – Rio Grande levee construction near Picacho Avenue will affect access to La Llorona Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico this summer.
Beginning July 13, the portion of La Llorona Park south of Picacho Avenue will be completely closed for two weeks. The park is expected to reopen on July 27 but the parking lot may be closed for short periods of time after that to facilitate paving and sidewalk construction.
The north side of the park was closed for much of April and May due to construction. Originally, construction was expected to affect the south side of the park immediately thereafter but schedule adjustments allowed the park to remain open in June for Raft the Rio and other activities. The park is located in the 3400 block of West Picacho Avenue on the east side of the Rio Grande.
The temporary closure is needed for safety reasons to prevent the public from accessing an active construction zone. Park infrastructure, such as sidewalks, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and trash cans will be removed during construction but will be replaced.
The work to raise and rehabilitate Rio Grande flood control levees is being undertaken with funding appropriated to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, promote economic recovery, and invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
Construction near La Llorona Park is part of a $13.74 million contract awarded to Briston Construction of Tempe, Arizona for 20 miles of levee improvements along the east side of the Rio Grande between Leasburg Bridge and Mesilla Dam to benefit the New Mexico communities of Radium Springs, Do a Ana, Las Cruces, and Mesilla.
All work in this segment is scheduled to be completed in December 2011. This is one of six USIBWC Recovery Act levee construction contracts currently in progress in the El Paso, Texas-Las Cruces, New Mexico region.