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Paving the Way to the 50th Balloon Fiesta

City using new paving equipment to fill 300 cracks on bike trails ahead of Balloon Fiesta

September 22, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE – The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department gave a demonstration of two new paving machines used to repair and upkeep the quality of Albuquerque’s multi-use trail system. The purchase of this new equipment is an investment into the trail system with efficiency and time saving contributions at the top if the list. Since 2020, when people were encouraged to be outside amid the pandemic, there was a significant increase in the usership of the multi-use trails. With the increase of use, the need for maintenance and repair also increased. These machines will give the City’s Park and Recreation Department the opportunity to fix cracks along the trail system and cover much more ground in a shorter amount of time.

“We are launching this new effort against trail cracks and this new equipment will help us work better and faster,” said Parks and Recreation Director, Dave Simon.

Prior to the purchase of these machines, PRD was able to fill and repair 10 cracks a day. With the use of these new machines, the maintenance crew can now repair anywhere from 40 to 100 cracks, depending on manpower and machine use.

“These machines help to keep up with the demand for trail maintenance throughout the 160-mile multi-use trail system,” said Assistant Park Superintendent, Kenny Ortiz. 

In preparation for the 50th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the maintenance crews have filled and repaired approximately 300 cracks along the North Diversion Channel trail, from Osuna Road north to Balloon Fiesta Park. The purchase of these new machines will ensure a smooth ride not only to this year’s Balloon Fiesta, but throughout the City as expansion of repairs continues.