Road Warrior: Repaving begins on Sunport Loop

For those planning to pick up loved ones at Albuquerque International Sunport, expect to encounter some road work.

Contractor Albuquerque Asphalt has begun repaving Sunport Loop, the main roadway that serves passengers at the airport. Work includes resurfacing from I-25 eastbound through the terminal loop and back to University Boulevard.

The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 20, City Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said in an Oct. 22 news release.

“This short stretch of road sees a high volume of traffic on a regular basis and was in need of rehabilitation,” he said.

The airport received $1.9 million from the Airport Infrastructure Grant Program for the project, according to an airport news release.

“Repaving the roadways along Sunport Boulevard is a key investment in both the customer experience and the long-term infrastructure of the Sunport,” acting city Director of Aviation Manny Manriquez said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the community’s patience as we complete these improvements, which will help us better serve New Mexico for many years to come.”

MLK AND LOMAS: The New Mexico Department of Transportation is reminding motorists there will be lane closures on the northbound frontage road by Interstate 25 between Lomas Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue due to milling and repaving work.

The closures, which started Monday, are expected to last until Wednesday, NMDOT District 3 spokesperson Kim Gallegos said.

On Thursday and Friday, crews repaved and milled the southbound frontage road between MLK and Lomas.

BARCELONA RECONSTRUCTION: The Bernalillo County Commission recently agreed to accept $1.9 million in NMDOT grant funding for the next phase of the Barcelona Road reconstruction project.

Work will consist of improvements along Barcelona from Barcelona Circle to the Arenal Main Canal, east of Coors, Bernalillo County spokesperson Maika Padilla said in a news release on Oct. 14.

The project includes pavement reconstruction, the installation of a new drainage system, bike lanes, lighting, pavement markings, signage and new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks.

The project cost is about $11 million with $4 million coming from the federal surface transportation block grant program and $681,648 in county bond funds, Padilla said.

“These large-scale improvements are a process and take time,” Frank Baca, Bernalillo County commissioner for District 2, said in a statement.

LIT UP: The city of Albuquerque recently added five new solar lights to streets around Mesa Verde Park.

The lights were installed on Pennsylvania NE and adjacent streets in the neighborhood, Mayfield said.

“Mesa Verde Park is one of the city’s great parks, and people who live around it asked for more lights so it can be enjoyed later into the evening,” Department of Municipal Development Director Jennifer Turner said in a statement. “Low-maintenance solar lights are the right choice for this park.”