What to know about the construction at Sawmill District

Construction is underway at the Sawmill District as Albuquerque's Rail Trail project that started in 2022 gets its second wind.

Construction is expected to continue until fall 2025.

The Rail Trail project is a seven-mile walking and biking path that will connect Downtown, Sawmill, Barelas and Old Town.

The Sawmill construction that started in August is the second of four phases to complete the trail.

The first phase was the Downtown tunnel, a pedestrian underpass at Central and First Street. The trail is now extending to connect to the Sawmill area.

Jennifer Turner is the director of the city of Albuquerque's Department of Municipal Development. The planned improvements for the Rail Trail include more parking and lighting and traffic-calming measures, according to a city press release.

“Sometimes you don’t see the improvements, like the new sewer and drainage we’re adding. These upgrades will help keep this neighborhood from flooding for years to come,” said Turner.

Sawmill renovations are expected to cost $10 million out of the $35.4 million in state capital outlay funding that has been pooled for the project, according to the city of Albuquerque's website.

According to previous Albuquerque Journal reporting, the project was contentious with many people. Residents wrote into the Journal in September 2024 with concerns about the trail being misused by unhoused people.

“This will be just like the disastrous (Albuquerque Rapid Transit) project. The only people using it will be the criminals and the homeless,” said Albuquerque resident Greg Natzke.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller disagrees.

“This new streetscape will help people feel safer with new lighting and streets that will help it continue on its path to being one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city," Keller said in a news release.