Description

The flood/emergency access route running from Overlook Drive (between 11200 and 11204 Overlook Drive NE, 87111) to Bear Canyon Open Space is blocked, overgrown and appears to be purposely hidden and impeded, creating a safety hazard.

Last year there was a fire on the South side of the arroyo and the fire department used a similar emergency access route to put it out before homes were destroyed. If the same situation arose near the Overlook Drive access, the firefighters would not be able to get through and property and perhaps lives would be lost.

The emergency access route has swinging gates and locks, so it was made to be opened. The Albuquerque GIS map shows that this is government land. Nonetheless, someone has planted and watered trees and vegetation and dumped refuse so that the gates cannot open properly. Additionally, someone has welded metal to the gates to prevent pedestrians from using the access route.

I am concerned because:

1. Fire, police and emergency personnel will be unable to find or use the access route because of the actions of some unknown individual (but likely the adjoining landowner);

2. Flood water will not flow freely through the access route because of added vegetation, landscaping and welded metal;

3. The public, including neighbors from the Overlook neighborhood, are denied access to the open space because of the wrongful and self-focused actions of an unknown individual or individuals who have disguised and blocked access to the public land.

Thank you for your prompt action to remedy this safety hazard.