For the second consecutive year, the students have worked with others from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque inspecting approximately 1,500 miles of roads in New Mexico.

The students are trained to find cracks and deterioration in the road.

Robert Young of the New Mexico Department of Transportation said occupying students to do the job rather than consultants, saving taxpayers about $350,000.

For students, it's also an opportunity to learn.

"We can make decisions based on the needs of the highway system as a whole and allocate our funds in a more cost-effective manner based on our actual needs," said Robert Young, of the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

The findings will be sent to the state legislature after the project is completed in August.