Uptown growth generates traffic issues

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A new Target, an IMAX theater, plans to fix up Winrock Shopping Center--add all that to ABQ Uptown and the Coronado Mall and it adds up to a lot of traffic.

“The Uptown restaurants and shopping area are fantastic and getting better,” says shopper Laurence Romero.

Lots of businesses are attracting lots of cars.

The Winrock area is getting a new life with new restaurants and a 16-screen IMAX theatre. Still on the drawing board: more restaurants, an outdoor shopping area and even condos.

Across the street is the elevated Target that just opened this week, and all of this is just down Louisiana Boulevard NE near the Coronado Mall.

"With Coronado and all the businesses and everything, it's always pretty congested,” says shopper Shannon Moreau.

Cars already get backed up on eastbound I-40 to get off at the Louisiana exit, so how is the city working to keep a handle on the traffic?

With each new development comes a traffic study.

City Engineer Richard Dourte says a minute and a half to get through an intersection during the busiest time of day is an acceptable delay.

He says the city and the New Mexico Department of Transportation have already done a lot to keep things moving here.

"The traffic studies indicate it is at a good level of service, a very acceptable level of service,” Dourte says.

He says the roads can even handle more traffic, so there are not any long-term plans for changes.

“We will analyze it as the developments come in," he adds.

And for now, shoppers are more than happy to make the drive.

“I think the venues more than outweigh the difficulties with the traffic,” Romero says.

The IMAX theatre is expected to open in the fall. The Winrock developer has also talked about plans to put up the country’s biggest indoor scuba tank and the largest climbing wall in the Southwest.