Road Warrior: First phase of I-25 improvement project completed

Phase one of the Interstate 25 Comanche to Montgomery improvement project is finished.

“This achievement represents significant progress on (New Mexico Department of Transportation’s) largest project in recent history, a $268 million investment aimed at improving safety and reducing travel times for New Mexico drivers,” NMDOT District 3 spokesperson Kim Gallegos said in a news release.

The first phase consisted of reconstructing the outside lanes between Candelaria to just south of Montgomery.

Starting Sunday evening, to prepare for upcoming work on the middle part of the interstate, traffic in both directions will shift to the outside lanes.

Drivers should expect nighttime closures (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and delays, Gallegos said.

The project, which began last August, is slated to be completed in spring 2027.

If anyone has questions, they can call 505-785-7623 or email info@i25improved.com.

LOMAS PAVING: On Monday, paving work begins on Lomas, from Girard to University.

Crews will rip up the asphalt and replace it with four new layers of asphalt, Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said.

At least one lane in each direction will be closed, he said.

Work is scheduled to take about 90 days to complete.

“Before Balloon Fiesta is the goal,” Mayfield said.

FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS: The city will add four-way stop signs at Second Street and Central and Seventh Street and Central to replace streetlights.

The goal is to reduce crashes, improve commute times and reduce wait times for pedestrians, Mayfield said.

SILVER AVENUE CLOSURE: In other Downtown news, Silver Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets will be closed through the end of the year to accommodate skybridge construction at Alvarado Square.

The closure is necessary to allow for materials to be safely transported to the roof of the eight-story building, Bernalillo County spokesperson J. Austin Munn said.

Pedestrian access to the building and the main entrance will remain open, he said.

“Bernalillo County appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as it undertakes these essential upgrades to ensure the long-term safety, reliability, and sustainability of its primary administrative facility,” Mann said.

SCAM ALERT: NMDOT is warning people of scams involving outstanding traffic tickets.

If someone gets a text about a ticket, do not click on the link and block the sender. If they get a call about it, they should hang up, Gallegos said.

“(NMDOT) will not send text messages or make phone calls to collect fees or payments for traffic tickets,” NMDOT spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic said.

DUST STORM REMINDERS: Spring is over, but that does not mean dust storms have gone away.

NMDOT recently issued a few reminders on what to do (and not to do) during a dust storm.

If people see one coming, they should get off the highway as safely as possible. If they can’t, they should:

• Check for traffic and start slowing down.
• Pull off the paved side of the road. Do not stop on the highway or shoulder.
• Set the emergency brake, turn off all vehicle lights — including emergency flashers — and get off the brake. “You don’t want the lights from your vehicle to act as a guide to vehicles behind you, possibly leading them to crash into your parked car,” according to NMDOT.
• Keep the seatbelt fastened and wait it out.