Trinity Drive Safety and ADA Improvements (Oppenheimer to Knecht)

Project typeRoadway and Safety
Project value$6,750,000
Project scheduleUtility board approval May 6 & Council approval May 19, 2026
Contractor nameTo Be Determined
Completion DateDecember 31, 2026

Satellite image of downtown Los Alamos showing the construction area along Trinity Drive

Cross-section diagram showing one bike lane and one car lane traveling toward viewer, then a shared turn lane, and then two cars and one bike traveling away from viewer.

Design

The project design includes several safety, accessibility, and utility improvements:

8' multiuse path from 20th Street to the Justice Center along the south side of Ashley Pond Park, which better serves special events and provides connectivity to Canyon Rim and Urban trails.
NM DOT Park-&-Ride layover pullout on the north side near the Justice Center parking area.

Satellite image and design overlay showing path of a new multiuse path and bus pullout

Addition of medians to separate directions of traffic and better delineate turn lanes:
- Two between Oppenheimer Drive and 20th Street
- Two between 20th and 15th streets
- Three between 15th and Knecht streets

Schematic design of road medians dividing flows of traffic and delineating turn lanes.

Installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at Trinity Drive and 20th Street
- Traffic signal or HAWK signal not currently warranted at this intersection
- RRFB are proven safety countermeasure by multiple studies
- County will need to enter into maintenance agreement with NM DOT for the RRFB

Schematic design of pedestrian crossing sign with flashing lights

New water line and services from Oppenheimer Drive to 20th Street
Selective gas line and valve replacement from 20th Street to Knecht Street
Selective electrical line replacements in the construction area

Satellite image with blue, yellow, and red lines added to depict utility updates

Impacts

We are working hard to minimize impacts of the construction project.

Department of Public Utilities is working with businesses to identify off-peak times to conduct utility work
Construction phasing is being planned to reduce impacts to public events and local businesses
Evaluating ways to expediate construction
Quick construction timeline to reduce length of impact

Images

View images of the project, from the design through to completion.

Project history

In February 2016, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), in coordination with Los Alamos County, completed a Road Safety Audit (RSA) for NM 502 (Trinity Drive) between Oppenheimer Drive and Knecht Street as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Los Alamos County was awarded a total of $6.75 million in Federal HSIP construction funding for safety improvements. The RSA recommended several countermeasures to enhance safety within this section of NM 502 (Trinity Drive), including a road diet, median installation for traffic channelization and access management, and various improvements to benefit pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists. These improvements included ADA-compliant curb ramps, buffered sidewalks, enhanced pedestrian crossings, LED roadway and pedestrian lighting, landscaping, bike lanes, and bus pullouts.

In October 2024, a Phase A/B Study was completed by Wilson & Company, Inc. to evaluate potential safety improvements for this corridor. The study considered the following alternatives:

No Build
Four-Lane
Roundabout
Road Diet

Extensive input was gathered from businesses, property owners, and the public. The project limits were extended from 15th Street to Knecht Street to connect with the project limits of the recently completed NM 502 Reconstruction & Roundabout Project.

The Los Alamos County Transportation Board and Public Works Department held a public meeting on June 6 to present the evaluation of existing safety hazards and potential project alternatives to improve conditions on NM 502 (Trinity Drive) between Oppenheimer and Knecht. The meeting aimed to collect public comments on the proposed alternatives, which assisted staff and board members in finalizing the project to present to the County Council. Wilson & Company, Inc. gave a presentation of possible improvement alternatives(PDF, 3MB) to the Transportation Board based on recommendations from a safety audit, relevant planning documents such as the Downtown Master Plan and Bicycle Transportation Plan, and data collection and analyses.

Watch the June 6th Transportation Board meeting regarding this discussion:

After careful consideration, the road diet alternative was selected as the preferred alternative by County Council on August 6, 2024. Design was finalized and request for bids went out in spring 2026.