About the Study
New Mexico State Road 128 (NM 128) is a 60-mile state road in southeastern New Mexico that is maintained by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). The route runs from NM 31 northeast of Loving, New Mexico and continues southeast to Texas State Highway 128 (TX 128) at the Texas state line. The road runs through a semi-arid region dotted with salt mines and flats, potash mines, and the largest number of oil rigs in the Permian Basin of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. As such, this arterial highway serves as a main route for these industries that generate a high volume of transport trucks.
The route within New Mexico is predominantly unpopulated, with the exception of the City of Jal (Jal). In Jal, the road becomes known as Kansas Avenue and intersects NM 205, NM 18, Texas New Mexico Railway (TXN), and various city streets. It leaves the city to the east, passing Lea County Jal Airport. This corridor study will explore the following existing concerns:
- Roadway conditions
- Geometry
- Congestion
- Travel times
- Access
- Safety
- Geotechnical features
- Right-of-Way
- Social, Cultural, and Environmental Conditions
Viable alternatives to relieve traffic congestion will be identified and evaluated through this corridor study.