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Past Participant Survey

GUTS

Team Number: 005 School Name: Freedom High School Area of Science: Traffic Engineering Project Title: Poke in the Eye:  Traffic Congestion During the "Big I" Reconstruction

In the year 2000 the state of New Mexico is going to begin the reconstruction of the interchanges between Interstate 25 and Interstate 40. This will be the single largest and most expensive project in the history of the state. The estimated cost of the project is 250 million dollars within a time frame of 24 months. Several contractors will unite to complete the project due to the complications involved in the reconstruction. The intersection presently standing was designed in the late 1950's to carry 76,000 vehicles per day. It was not anticipated at that time that this intersection would be so heavily used by local commuters. It currently supports nearly 350,000 vehicles every day. The dramatic increase of population and use of the interstate causes serious problems in afternoon traffic flow. The structure has currently reached its design and age limits.

The Middle Rio Grande Counsel of Government, along with various engineering firms, have re-evaluated the construction plans repeatedly in an attempt to defuse the traffic congestion that will occur during the project. Using acquired information from several sources (such as the Middle Rio Grande Counsel of Government, traffic engineering firms, the City of Albuquerque, and the New Mexico State Highway Transportation Department) we will further review the project plans in detail. Our hope is to find additional solutions to this traffic congestion issue. Perhaps our fresh perspective as youth of Albuquerque will make all the difference.

Team Members

• Jeff Boardman
• David Ferguson
• John Hanson
• Holly Mullan
• Sam Thuot

• Joe Vertrees