Los Lunas Boulevard/I-25 corridor project moving ahead

LOS LUNAS — Construction of the Los Lunas Boulevard/I-25 Interchange and corridor project is progressing significantly, with officials optimistic about finishing well ahead of the projected April 2029 completion date.

Molzen Corbin vice-president Wyatt Kartchner gave a presentation to the Los Lunas Village Council recently that spelled out this optimism while village public works director Michael Jaramillo gave similar report outs as well.

Spanning from Interstate 25 to N.M. 47, the project includes a new interchange and road as well as a cross-river bridge and intersection work at N.M. 47 and N.M. 314 work along Morris Road. After about 47 working days, Kartchner reported that crews have made noticeable headway on the project. At the I-25 interchange location, he said subcontractor Guzman Construction has completed significant excavation. He also said the I-25 northbound section has been excavated to prepare for the new bridge structure.

Work has also been done along the new Los Lunas Boulevard corridor near the courthouse, with the road grade, curb and gutter being built, raising the road’s elevation. Much of the dirt excavated near Morris Road has been used to raise the road. Significant work has also been done on irrigation ditches running through the area as well as the area between Camelot Boulevard and Sichler Road.

At the Rio Grande bosque construction site a large, 14 x 14 foot box structure is being constructed near the wastewater treatment plant, which will be the future access road for plant employees. A temporary bridge has also been built across the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District drain, allowing access for clearing and grubbing in the river area.

Kartchner said crews have cleared a 200-foot-wide path across the river for the future 2,500-foot-long bridge over the river that will span from levee to levee, not just over the river.

He and Jaramillo reported the project has already realized an initial savings of $2.8 million, with an additional savings of about $700,000 expected following a request from the MRGCD to change two drain structures from using two 72-inch pipes to one.

He also reported a design change would be done on the bridges and sound walls, with the original artwork being removed. To mitigate potential graffiti and ensure a finished look, a brick pattern texture and paint will be added. Paint schemes and colors will be coordinated with those on the Daniel D. Fernandez Veterans Memorial Bridge, which provides the river crossing on Main Street.

“The texture that we’re going to use is a brick pattern ...” Kartchner said during his presentation. “Michael asked us to look at paint schemes and colors that are similar to the N.M. 6 bridge that utilize the village’s colors so we can have some continuity through both of your interchanges in town.”

At its onset, he said construction time for the project was projected at 940 working days, with a projected completion around April 2029. Jaramillo reported he expects to finish ahead of schedule.

“When you put all that together, if I was to take a guess we’re not going to be anywhere close to that by the time it’s done I think we’re going to be ahead of schedule but that’s fingers crossed at this point,” Kartchner said.