The pedestrian bridge near Gibson and San Mateo boulevards in Southeast Albuquerque was built decades ago to give residents and workers safe access to coffee shops, restaurants and businesses along one of the city’s busiest streets. But residents say recent activity on the bridge has made the journey across it an uneasy one.
The bridge is used by workers from the nearby Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and, before it closed in 2007, the staff at Lovelace Hospital – now the Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub. The center is a multiphase project the city opened last year to provide beds and services to combat widespread homelessness. Many neighborhood associations were opposed to it – concerned it would attract homeless camps, alcohol and drug use, as well as public defecation and urination – which they say have been observed on the bridge.
Rachel Baca, a former two-term president of the Siesta Hills Neighborhood Association, said the city needs to step up enforcement.
“To show that it’s not OK to poop on the walkway and do other activities that block a person from using it,” said Baca, now the chair of Siesta Hills’ Gateway Center and homelessness committee.
Melinda Frame, the Parkland Hills Neighborhood Association’s homelessness solutions committee chair, who lives a few blocks away from the center, said she and others don’t feel safe crossing the bridge.
“The bridge has had continuous issues, including squatters,” she said. “We’ve brought up safety concerns to the city. We’ve been sending photos and making phone calls.”
Like Baca, Frame said she’d like to see more monitoring and patrolling.
New option to cross
The city said it has installed a street level “HAWK signal” (High-intensity Activated crossWalK) near the site to help with pedestrian safety and as an alternative to crossing the bridge. When a button is pushed, yellow and red flashing lights alert motorists that pedestrians need to cross. Health, Housing & Homelessness Department spokesperson Katie Simon said the new system was in response to a recent traffic study requested by neighborhood associations.
“Once the HAWK light is in use and providing an ADA (American with Disabilities Act) accessible way to cross the street, the City will evaluate the situation to determine how best to address the public safety concerns in the area,” Simon said in a Jan. 29 email to City Desk ABQ.
Simon wouldn’t say whether the city had plans to close the bridge once the HAWK light is up and running.
“Even though there is an existing pedestrian bridge, we know that people still cross Gibson at the street level and there is a long stretch between safe, at-grade crossings,” she added. “We continue to have open conversations with neighbors about public safety in the area. Our Clean [City] teams are in the area and on the bridge frequently, and [the Albuquerque Police Department] also enforces laws when they see illegal activity.”
Clean City teams respond to requests for graffiti, weed and litter removal.
Baca and Frame said they applaud the city for installing the HAWK light, but don’t want officials to give up on the bridge. They’d like to see more consistent response times when complaints are phoned into the city’s 311 service or through its sister app, ABQ311.
“The trouble is when we do report it, we see long stretches when the same homeless camp sits there,” Baca said.
She said it often takes multiple residents placing calls to see any action.
“The bridge can still function for pedestrian safety if ordinances are enforced,” Baca said. “Just like if a camp blocks a sidewalk and gives pedestrians no choice but to step out into traffic – it just can’t stand.”