Motorist questions pileup of road projects
I-40, COORS AND NOW UNSER CONSTRUCTION? Cyndi Silva emails, “I see signs for work starting (today) on Unser near Interstate 40. What is the scope and planned duration? This is going to be a nightmare. Eastbound I-40 with road work and two lanes closed, and work on Blake and Coors, already detour to Unser. Why can’t project people look at these projects and schedule accordingly to prevent severe backups? So annoying.”
Johnny Chandler, public information coordinator for Albuquerque’s Department of Municipal Development, says, “A full reconstruction at the Unser and Central intersection will start on May 21 (today). This project will address some much-needed concerns at that intersection. Those updates include ADA improvements at all four corners, roadway widening, adding bike lanes, a new multi-use trail and sidewalks. The contractor is required to keep at least one lane open in each direction at all times.
“The $5.9 million reconstruction is scheduled to be completed by summer of 2019 and will bring some much-needed relief for motorists as well as some nice upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists,” Chandler adds. “Motorists should plan some extra time for their commute during this project.”
As for coordination, Chandler says DMD “is constantly in contact with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and does our best to separate road projects to minimize driver inconvenience.”
THEN I-40: NMDOT is in charge of this $9.4 million I-40 project, which is concrete repair east- and westbound between N.M. 45 (Coors) and the Big I, according to a news release. Work is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Friday, and the NMDOT website says it will run through the summer of 2019. During this phase of the work, the news release cautions “I-40 eastbound will have various lane and shoulder restrictions in place.”
THEN COORS: Cyndi also asks, “When is the Blake and Coors project planned for completion? I see Blake project approaching Unser. Is this also going to affect Unser traffic eventually? Is there a website to access for all these projects?”
NMDOT is also in charge of this project, and according to a news release the work on north- and southbound Coors is for utility and infrastructure improvements. It is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 30.
City projects are listed at cabq.gov; state projects at nmroads.com and dot. state.nm.us. The Albuquerque-metro area is NMDOT District 3. RIO BRAVO/I-25 BRIDGE GOING
AWAY: Kimberly Gallegos, who handles info for NMDOT District 3, also has an update on this long-awaited interchange rebuild.
She says in a news release: “Eastbound Rio Bravo will be completely closed between Broadway and University Boulevard from 8 p.m.5 a.m. each evening (tonight) through Thursday so that crews can demolish the southbound I-25 bridge over Rio Bravo.
“The southbound I-25 exit at Rio Bravo will remain open, and motorists will be able to head west on Rio Bravo toward Broadway. However, westbound Rio Bravo will be closed at the bridge, so motorists east of the bridge will be able to enter northbound I-25 using the on-ramp and head to Gibson Boulevard to access westbound Rio Bravo via southbound Broadway.
“The northbound I-25 entrance ramp will not be accessible to traffic heading eastbound on Rio Bravo. Motorists will be able to access northbound I-25 by heading north on Broadway to Gibson.”
As always, “speed limits are reduced in the construction zone. Motorists are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination, watch for construction signs and use extra caution when traveling through the area.”