ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Major renovations coming to I-25 are meant to improve traffic flow, but as the project gets underway, be prepared for delays.
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Costing nearly $280 million, it’s set to be the largest single highway project in New Mexico since the “Big I” construction nearly 25 years ago. “We’re excited about investments in projects like this and what it does for the city of Albuquerque,” said Dan Lewis, Albuquerque City Council.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation broke ground on the long-awaited I-25 improvement project that has been in the works for the past three and a half years. “This is a design-build project, which means it’s being designed and built concurrently. And it’s going to start on the Comanche side and then we’re going to move over to Montgomery,” said Kimberly Gallegos, NMDOT District 3 Public Information Officer.
The NMDOT said these changes will improve safety and travel times for drivers as well as safety for pedestrians and cyclists. “What we’re doing is just approving this corridor for our safety and speed, we’re including graded ramps, we’re including what they call advanced turn arounds. And so, there’ll be a complete re-do of Montgomery and Comanche bridges,” said Gallegos.
Upgrades coming to I-25 Comanche to Montgomery Interchange The improvements will include widening the freeway, adding new lanes, and improving interchanges and frontage roads. “We’re adding a southbound driving lane to I-25 and so I think that’ll help omit some of that daytime traffic that backs up in those areas and causes those bottlenecks,” said Gallegos.
City officials say drivers may see overnight and weekend closures and while the delays may be frustrating for drivers in the short term, they urge New Mexicans to be patient. “And ask every New Mexican, every time you see one of those orange barrels, you think about improvements to our community, you think about progress,” said Dayan Hochman-Vigil, New Mexico State Representative.
The City of Albuquerque said they will not be granting any permits to other construction projects in the immediate area for the next two to three years, to avoid causing more traffic delays.
Transportation officials compared the project to the Paseo Interchange revamp in 2014. “With that reminder that going back ten years, we’ve endured, we’ve seen what these projects can do for our mobility, for our safety, and for our community development,” said Ricky Serna, Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Transportation.
Drivers will see construction begin in August of 2024. It’s expected to be completed in the spring of 2027. The NMDOT said they will have daily updates on closures and other impacts to drivers on their website.
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