New Mexico State Road 599
New Mexico Road 599 is a state highway in northern Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. The divided highway expressway is also known as the Veterans Memorial Highway and the Santa Fe Relief Route; and both names are used on road signs. The latter name alludes to the highway's original purpose of bypassing the urbanized areas of Santa Fe and thereby relieving it from shipments of hazardous waste. It passes through less densely developed terrain in and around the northwestern boundary of the municipality. Speed limits on it range from.
Route description
NM 599 begins at a traffic light-controlled intersection with Cerrillos Road, about south of the eastern municipal boundaries of Santa Fe.From its southern terminus NM 599 heads very briefly west to East I-25 Frontage Road before turning northwest. The speed limit increases to as the expressway continues through its diamond interchange with I-25/US 85, where it passes under the freeway. North of the freeway, NM 599 briefly enters La Cienega, a census-designated place, and crosses West I-25 Frontage Road, which provides access to a horse racetrack. Northwest of the frontage road, the speed limit increases from for approximately, as the expressway turns to the north and leaves La Cienega.
Next along the NM 599 is a diamond interchange with Jaguar Drive, that is located directly east of the Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Continuing north, and to the west of some of the Santa Fe's newer neighborhoods, the highway returns to a speed limit before it approaches the remaining traffic light controlled intersection on the route at Airport Road. The Santa Fe Municipal Airport is accessed by heading west on Airport Road.
As the highway leaves the industrial and residential area near the intersection with Airport Road, the speed limit increases to as the expressway curves to the northeast and crosses the Santa Fe River. Northeast of the river NM 599 gains a western frontage road. Continuing northeast the expressway begins a long moderate climb through rolling terrain with grasses and juniper shrubs punctuated by mostly light residential development, as the road follows Santa Fe's northwestern boundary, until it reaches a dumbbell interchange with South Meadows Drive. While South Meadow drive does not yet continue northwest beyond the interchange, it provides a connection with CR 62, which originally crossed NM 599, just northeast of the newer interchange. Continuing its northeasterly course, and its climb through rolling hills, the expressway reaches an intersection with Via Veteranos. Still further northeast along the route is the diamond interchange with Camino La Tierra and Paseo Nopal. The West Frontage Road ends at Camino La Tierra.
Beyond the Camino La Tierra/Paseo Nopal interchange, the expressway assumes a more east-northeasterly course, re-enters the city limits of Santa Fe, and passes through largely open space. About along this section is a T intersection with Miranda Road, which only connects with the southbound lanes of NM 599. After an intersection with Camino De Las Montoyas the route turns to the south-southeast and reaches its highest point at a diamond interchange with Ridgetop Road. At, this interchange is almost higher than the route's junction with I-25/US 85, approximately to the southwest. As the expressway crosses under Ridgetop Road the speed limit decreases to and the highway descends promptly into a canyon named Cañada Rincon. Less than a mile later, after turning to the southeast, NM 599 reaches its northern terminus at a trumpet interchange with the U.S. Route 84/U.S. Route 285 freeway, which is part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.