Town Hall to Address Deadly NM-528 Corridor Study Findings

A Rio Rancho lawmaker will convene state transportation officials next week to lay out findings and short-term remedies for a stretch of NM-528 that has been described as a deadly corridor. Rep. Alan Martinez, R-Rio Rancho, will lead the meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the Church of the Incarnation, 2309 Monterrey Road NE.

New Mexico Department of Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna and department staff will present results of a study conducted by an outside consulting group and will outline interim solutions the department has crafted. Officials say the meeting is intended to share the study’s conclusions with the community and explain immediate steps state transportation planners recommend while longer-term projects are developed.

For residents of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County, the town hall is significant because NM-528 serves as a vital local artery. The presentation will be one of the first opportunities for neighbors, commuters, and local leaders to hear directly from state officials about the specific hazards identified, the rationale behind proposed interim measures, and expected timelines for implementation. The session should also clarify how short-term steps will be coordinated with permanent engineering, enforcement, and education efforts that typically follow a formal study.

The involvement of Secretary Serna underscores state-level attention to the corridor and signals that NMDOT is preparing to move from analysis to action. Interim solutions developed by the department will likely shape near-term traffic patterns and enforcement priorities; community feedback at the town hall can influence how those measures are refined and deployed. Residents will want to ask about implementation schedules, how safety improvements will affect daily commutes, and how the department will monitor results.

Transportation safety is a local quality-of-life issue with broader implications for economic activity, emergency response times, and public confidence in infrastructure stewardship. This meeting gives Sandoval County an immediate forum to press state officials for transparent timelines and measurable outcomes. Residents planning to attend should arrive early for seating at the Church of the Incarnation and prepare specific questions about how proposed interim solutions will address safety on NM-528.