Land swaps, purchases pave way for new bridge
The details still are cloaked in secrecy under an exemption to New Mexico’s Open Meetings Act, but apparently some land swaps and purchases are underway to accommodate installation of a permanent bridge on Eagle Drive.
The bridge was one of 13 torn away or badly damaged by a massive flood on the Rio Ruidoso in July 2008.
Most of the money to replace the structures will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Eagle is the main bridge in Midtown connecting both sides of the town.
Village officials awarded a contract to FNF Construction based in Albuquerque to install the span-type bridge, but work was held up when they discovered some of the needed land belonged to property owners on the north side of the river.
When councilors emerged from closed session Tuesday, they unanimously voted on a motion by Councilor Gloria Sayers to authorize Village Manager Debi Lee to negotiate for and finalize a land trade with the owner of The Sanctuary on the River, Debbie Haines Nix, for land needed to install Eagle Drive Bridge. More from Diane Stallings here…