On August 16, the Mora Valley came to a complete standstill. I was driving back home to Holman when State Police stopped me at the county line coming from Taos. I had a feeling something was wrong when several white Taos County Sheriff’s Office vehicles passed me in the canyon near La Junta.
When I asked the officer at the roadblock what was going on, he explained that an incident in Mora would close NM 518 for at least 48 hours, and that Taos County deputies were assisting both the Mora County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police.
I was immediately brought back to the days of the Hermits Peak / Calf Canyon Fire when another officer told me the exact same thing at that exact same spot. Back then, the officer suggested detouring through Angel Fire, but this time, all traffic into Mora was completely shut down. A line of vehicles, including mine, was left waiting in limbo.
This situation highlights a critical need: Mora requires a grid network of bypass roads to navigate around the town during emergencies. Using eminent domain, the county should acquire parallel strips of land alongside NM 518 to construct wide bypass roads capable of handling semi-trucks, RVs, and local traffic. That is a genuine public necessity.
Reflecting on the gridlock along NM 518, the stranded motorists on surrounding roads, the residents trapped in town, and the widespread confusion, it is obvious that alternative routes are essential. Being told once again that I couldn’t reach my home triggered that same deep feeling of helplessness I felt during the fire—a frustrating sentiment I know was shared by many others in Mora that day.