New Mexico State Road 599 - Route Description

Route Description

At its southern end, NM-599 begins at the traffic light controlled intersection of itself, Cerrillos Road (NM-14), and Avenida del Sur about two miles south of the municipal boundaries of Santa Fe. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour (mph) as the expressway crosses under and connects mostly at-grade with Interstate 25's (I-25) frontage roads and exit ramps, providing intermediate access from the freeway to a horse racetrack, businesses and homes on the frontage road. After a traffic light on the route at I-25's western frontage road, the speed limit increases from 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) for approximately two miles, as the expressway travels north up and over two hills, passing to the west of some of the city's newer neighborhoods and to the east of the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, before slowing again to 45 mph as it approaches the remaining traffic light controlled intersection on the route at Airport Road (former NM-284, now Santa Fe County Road 56). As the highway leaves the industrial and residential area near the intersection with Airport Road, the speed limit increases to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) and it crosses the Santa Fe River. After the river the relief route's western frontage road begins.

The relief route then turns to the northeast and begins a long moderate climb through rolling terrain with grasses and juniper shrubs punctuated by mostly light residential development, as the road follows at a distance the city's northwestern boundary, until it reaches a diamond interchange with Camino la Tierra. The western frontage road continuously follows the expressway on this section of the route and it bulbs out (for the purpose of the construction of a future interchange) at two at-grade intersections with local highways controlled by stop signs. The western frontage road ends at Camino la Tierra. There are two more at-grade intersections, one of which is an unused stub, on the route as the expressway continues to the northeast and enters the city of Santa Fe's northern incorporated area, which is projected to be developed, but is largely open space. There is another diamond interchange at the route's highest point, which at 7,265 feet (2,214 m) is almost 1000 ft higher than the route's junction with I-25 approximately twelve miles to the southwest. As the expressway crosses under Ridgetop Road the speed limit decreases to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) and the highway descends promptly into an arroyo. Less than a mile later NM-599 ends at a trumpet interchange with the U.S Route 84/285 freeway in Santa Fe.