Dignitaries cut ribbon on new bypass road in Rio Communities

RIO COMMUNITIES—It might have been the fastest road built in the history of New Mexico, and most definitely in Valencia County.

The bypass road connecting N.M. 304 and N.M. 47 — named Founders Way — was dedicated and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. Local, county and state dignitaries were in attendance, all grateful for the road that could bring more economic development to the area.

During last Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Rio Communities Mayor Joshua Ramsell said while the road was constructed primarily to ease semi-truck traffic from traveling within the main area of the city, it is a city-owned and maintained road. The mayor said all motorists are able to drive on the newly-built stretch of road.

Rhona Espinoza, the executive director of the Greater Valencia County Chamber of Commerce, welcomed everyone to the ceremony and introduced the dignitaries. She said the road is a “special, long-time coming” project that will benefit the manufacturing industry in the area.

Ramsell said there were a lot of people involved in the project from the governor’s office, New Mexico Department of Transportation, the county, city and partners at Arcosa and the landowners, which includes the Martin Sisneros family, Felipe Sanchez and Harvey Yates, who donated the dedicated, permanent easement for the road.

“This will alleviate the congestion we had in town, and we’re glad to have it completed,” Ramsell said. “If you can see from the tire marks, this road used to be pristine and white, but it no longer is.

“That tells us that it’s being used instead of having those beautiful state orange barrels — the state flower — in the middle of town anymore,” the mayor joked. “We’re happy to see them gone.”

The mayor thanked Sens. Joshua Sanchez and Liz Stefanics and Rep. Tanya Mirabal Moya for their support and helping to push the project forward.

“We’re very happy to see this project completed and be able to be used and see Rio Communities continue to move forward,” Ramsell said.

Stefanics said Rio Communities has a “very powerful group of people” who have pushed the project through.

“Usually, a road project like this would take many more years of sitting in offices, talking about it and planning ...,” Stefanics said. “You have accomplished this in such a short time, so please thank your local officials for being the movers and the shakers, and for taking into account what’s good and important to this community.”

Rio Communities City Councilors Lawrence Gordon, Art Apodaca, Tom Nelson and Matthew Marquez all thanked those who helped with the project, saying the city is growing in the right direction.

“On behalf of Arcosa, I want to thank the city of Rio Communities for all the support they’ve given us as we grow,” said Melanie Stubler, the plant accountant.

Bobby Caldwell, a member of the Founder’s Group, who worked to help incorporate the city of Rio Communities 13 years ago, said he was proud to represent the people who wanted to make a difference.

Including Caldwell, his wife, Hazel, Sue Moran and Helen Smith, all members of the Founders Group, were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Caldwell said others couldn’t attend while about 50 percent of the original membership were “no longer with us.”

“Having a plan and executing that plan with a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, to achieve a goal, and we were able to do that,” Caldwell said. “If you’ve attended meetings, supported things, gave your opinion — you’re a founder, too. You’re a part of the reason why a lot of things were successful — things the city wasn’t able to do.”

While giving his speech, a motorist driving by yelled, “You’re doing good things.”

Harvey Yates Jr., president of Cibola Land Corp., said he is pleased to have been able to help, along with his partners, to donate the right-of-way to help keep commercial traffic from residential neighborhoods.

“Hopefully, this will help the city gain tax revenue as commercial activity grows,” Yates said.

The 100-foot wide, 1.3-mile stretch of bypass road, which sits just north of the Arcosa Wind Towers manufacturing plant in the Rio Grande Industrial Park, was built with Local Economic Development Act funds in the amount of $6.5 million.

Before the road was completed in November, trucks hauling the 190-foot wind towers made their way from the Arcosa facility, through Rio Communities, south to U.S. 60 in Socorro County and then west to Interstate 25.

Since October 2024, the intersection of N.M. 304 and N.M. 47 has periodically had to be closed due to the ongoing transport of the wind towers. Nearly immediately, the city, state, county and the company reached an agreement that the state would provide LEDA funding to help with construction of the road.