Snow storms costing New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Winter is even officially here yet, but New Mexico already has been hit by snowstorms piling up about $850,000 in state highway costs.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation has already spent about 11 percent of the $7.5 million budgeted for winter road maintenance to keep highways safe.

The money pays for the salt and cinders, plow-truck operations and repairs as well as overtime.

The District 5 crew that works in and around Santa Fe said they are seeing the brunt of the action. They've needed to spend almost double of what they spent at this time last year.

The crews are working 80 hour weeks.

"If we continue getting these storms that come in every weekend or every week, we might be looking at some potential adjustments come January and February," said Edward Martinez, District 5 highway maintenance supervisor.

Those adjustments would mean money taken from a year-round fund designated for road upkeep, he added.

NMDOT spent $7.4 million dealing with winter weather last season.