The City of Artesia will host a public forum Monday evening to gather input from the community on a proposed bridge across Eagle Draw. The forum will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

During their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night, the Artesia City Council discussed plans for Miller’s Crossing – a bridge designed to go from 20th and Main streets, across Eagle Draw, where it will line up with Centennial Drive, north of J.J. Clarke Drive – currently a dirt road. The portion of Centennial Drive south of J.J. Clarke Drive that is currently paved, will be removed to make room for the bridge.

One of the reasons the council said they are considering the bridge – which came about as a direct result of a previous decision to open a portion of J.J. Clarke Drive to two-way traffic – is because of the difficult and dangerous left-hand turn from Centennial Drive onto Main Street.

Councilor Raye Miller said during Tuesday’s meeting that when they opened J.J. Clarke Drive to two-way traffic, it resulted in heavier traffic on Centennial Drive, which results in a greater chance of accidents at 20th Street and Centennial. A bridge, they say, will be a safer alternative to the left-hand turn.

While the council agreed that there are other, more pressing projects the city could spend their time and money on, they said they need to act now in order to take advantage of stimulus money given to the city for infrastructure projects.

According to city leaders, the bridge is a “fairly simple” project to engineer and the city was able to get the engineering design done in time for the stimulus package.

Anyone with questions or for more information, call 746-9821. The meeting is open to the public and input is welcomed. City Hall is located at 511 W. Texas Ave.

« Top »