NMSP cracking down on popular commute route

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Drivers on I-25 between Albuquerque and Bernalillo may want to pump the brakes, state police are cracking down a seven and a half mile stretch.

The sign says 70 miles per hour but on I-25 between Albuquerque and Bernalillo it seems more like a suggestion than a limit.

"What I see is everybody going 10 or 15 miles over the speed limit especially in the outside lane," said Richard Mckiernan.

State Police say they clock people going even faster on that span of interstate.

"We average between 85 to 110 in that location," said Sergeant Emmanuel Gutierrez.

That is just one of the reasons State Police will target the area during rush hour for the rest of the year.

In the last two weeks alone Sergeant Gutierrez says they've handed out 235 citations along that stretch of I-25, nearly half were for speeding.

According to Sergeant Gutierrez the problem starts right at the Sandia Reservation where the lanes get wider and the speeds get higher.

The lane widening was part of a major over-haul of I-25 a couple of years ago to make the area safer.

A cement barrier was added during the construction to curb head on crashes.

State Police say the changes have helped, sort of.

"It's a double edged sword, it can be safe and also at the same token because of the widened lanes and the smooth road people are going to increase their speed," Sgt. Gutierrez said.

However, lead-footed drivers are not the only danger.

Gutierrez said there are also drunks, road rage and distracted drivers to deal with too.

"There's a lot of people weaving out of traffic, really on your butt, I almost got slammed yesterday actually," said Desiree Reynolds.

State Police are hoping the increased presence during rush hour traffic will have people pumping their brakes and backing off the dangerous driving.

News 13 asked State Police and the Department of Transportation why the area is not a safety corridor which would reduced the speed limit and double any fines, both agencies said its something worth looking into.