New Mexico State Road 502
Encyclopedia
New Mexico State Road 502 is a state highway
in New Mexico
, United States of America. It is notable as the main access route to Los Alamos National Laboratory
(LANL), Bandelier National Monument
, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Jemez Mountains
, and town of Los Alamos
.
at U.S. Highway 285 (and US 84) in Pojoaque
. It passes out of Pojoaque and past San Ildefonso Pueblo
to a modern bridge across the Rio Grande
beside the historic Otowi Bridge, then to a junction with New Mexico State Road 30
which goes north to Santa Clara Pueblo
and Española
. NM 502 itself continues west through the spectacular canyon
/mesa
country of the Pajarito Plateau
, to a junction with New Mexico State Road 4
and on to the town of Los Alamos
, where it ends. The total length is about 18 miles (29 km). NM 502 is continuous with New Mexico State Road 501
, which continues from Los Alamos west to another junction with NM 4 in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains
.
The route is paved
for its entire length, in contrast to some other state highways in northern New Mexico. It is 4-lane road from Pojoaque to the junction with NM 30, then adds a fifth lane west-bound to accommodate the heavy commuter traffic going from Pojoaque, Española, etc., to LANL in the morning, and back in the evening. The road narrows to two lanes beyond the junction with NM 4, where much of the LANL traffic leaves NM 502. NM 502 has been a designated "safety corridor" for most of its length since November 2005, with speed limit
s restricted to 55 mi/h maximum, and lower through the towns and on the steep curves near the intersection with NM 4. Prior to 2007, the speed limit along the stretch from San Ildefonso Pueblo and Pojoaque Valley High School was 65 mph.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States of America. It is notable as the main access route to Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
(LANL), Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument is a National Monument preserving the homes of the Ancestral Pueblo People. It is named after Swiss anthropologist Adolph Bandelier, who researched the cultures of the area. Bandelier was designated a National Monument on February 11, 1916, and most of its backcountry...
, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Jemez Mountains
Jemez Mountains
The Jemez Mountains are a volcanic group of mountains in New Mexico, United States. The highest point in the range is Chicoma Mountain at an elevation of 11,561 feet . The town of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory adjoin the eastern side of the range while the town of Jemez Springs...
, and town of Los Alamos
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
.
Route description
New Mexico 502 starts at a complex interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
at U.S. Highway 285 (and US 84) in Pojoaque
Pojoaque, New Mexico
Pojoaque is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,261 at the 2000 census. Pojoaque and Pojoaque Pueblo are neighboring communities...
. It passes out of Pojoaque and past San Ildefonso Pueblo
San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico
San Ildefonso Pueblo is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 458 at the 2000 census...
to a modern bridge across the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
beside the historic Otowi Bridge, then to a junction with New Mexico State Road 30
New Mexico State Road 30
New Mexico State Road 30 is a primarily north–south road from US 84/285 in Española to its junction with State Road 502 in San Ildefonso Pueblo.-Route description:...
which goes north to Santa Clara Pueblo
Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
Santa Clara Pueblo is a census-designated place in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census. Santa Clara Pueblo was established about 1550....
and Española
Española, New Mexico
Española also known as Espanola , is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in the United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Española was founded in 1880 as a railroad village, incorporated as a city in 1925. The city is situated in...
. NM 502 itself continues west through the spectacular canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
/mesa
Mesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
country of the Pajarito Plateau
Pajarito Plateau
The Pajarito Plateau is a volcanic plateau in north central New Mexico, United States. The plateau, part of the Jemez Mountains, is bounded on the west by the Valles Caldera and on the east by the White Rock Canyon of the Rio Grande...
, to a junction with New Mexico State Road 4
New Mexico State Road 4
New Mexico State Road 4 is a state highway in New Mexico, United States of America. It is significant as the main access route connecting the remote town of Los Alamos, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Bandelier National Monument to other, more major highways in New Mexico...
and on to the town of Los Alamos
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
, where it ends. The total length is about 18 miles (29 km). NM 502 is continuous with New Mexico State Road 501
New Mexico State Road 501
New Mexico Route 501 is a very short state highway in New Mexico, United States of America. Its total length is only about . New Mexico Route 501's southwestern terminus is at New Mexico State Road 4 west of Los Alamos. It runs northeast into the town of Los Alamos, where it ends...
, which continues from Los Alamos west to another junction with NM 4 in the foothills of the Jemez Mountains
Jemez Mountains
The Jemez Mountains are a volcanic group of mountains in New Mexico, United States. The highest point in the range is Chicoma Mountain at an elevation of 11,561 feet . The town of Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory adjoin the eastern side of the range while the town of Jemez Springs...
.
The route is paved
Pavement (material)
Road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past cobblestones and granite setts were extensively used, but these surfaces have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete. Such...
for its entire length, in contrast to some other state highways in northern New Mexico. It is 4-lane road from Pojoaque to the junction with NM 30, then adds a fifth lane west-bound to accommodate the heavy commuter traffic going from Pojoaque, Española, etc., to LANL in the morning, and back in the evening. The road narrows to two lanes beyond the junction with NM 4, where much of the LANL traffic leaves NM 502. NM 502 has been a designated "safety corridor" for most of its length since November 2005, with speed limit
Speed limit
Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...
s restricted to 55 mi/h maximum, and lower through the towns and on the steep curves near the intersection with NM 4. Prior to 2007, the speed limit along the stretch from San Ildefonso Pueblo and Pojoaque Valley High School was 65 mph.