Drivers will see another 10 months of construction on I-40.
The reconstruction on the I-40 / Louisiana Interchange is an important project that will reduce traffic congestion on Louisiana Boulevard and accommodate the future expansion of I-40, said Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught in a news release.
The interchange was built in 1962 when Albuquerque's population was 200,000. Since then, the city's population has grown to more than half a million.
The interchange is like any other old thing needing to be replaced to meet demands, said S.U. Mahesh, spokesman for the State Department of Transportation.
"It has outlived its use and doesn't meet existing standards in terms of safety and accommodating traffic," Mahesh said.
With a scheduled completion date of Nov. 15, the interchange will become one of only two interchanges in the city controlled by a single set of traffic lights, bringing together Louisiana Boulevard's on and off ramps.
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Lane reductions will be in effect Sunday through Friday 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Because most of the construction has not started, many of the area's residents have not felt an impact, but will start to early next week, Mahesh said.
The project broke ground on Jan. 14. Area resident and UNM sophomore Erin Canfield said she can already hear beeping sounds from the construction site when she gets home around 9 p.m., but it has not yet affected her sleep.
"I take the freeway almost everywhere and it is just kind of a drag at night when usually I can just hop on the freeway," Canfield said. "But now I have to figure out alternate routes to take or get on the freeway another way."
She said despite the noise, she sees the need for a new interchange because of all the traffic and congestion on Louisiana Boulevard. She is glad they are doing the construction at night instead of making it more difficult to get to school during the day.
East-west detours are along Menaul and Lomas boulevards and north-south detours are set along Wyoming and San Mateo boulevards. Drivers will also experience complete shutdowns of I-40 during beam replacement and bridge demolition.
"We're advising people to use detours, taking extra steps not to have those detours go through residential areas," Mahesh said. "We understand the situation, people using Louisiana daily and for the state fair, but we are asking that unless people live in the neighborhood, to not use it."
Further lane closures, reductions and any delays will be posted in advance on the department's Web site, through direct e-mail to residents, business groups, police and fire departments and through the media, Mahesh said.
Concerns about the project can be voiced on the Web site.
The two-phase project will complicate any travel to or from the Uptown area as well as to the area's shopping malls until it is finished.
Mahesh said people aren't seeing a lot of activity there now, but expects more comments during the actual dismantling and reconstruction phase.
"We will take comments into consideration," he said. "We want to make this as easy as possible for everyone involved. We can't avoid it, but we can make it less painful and stressful while construction is taking place."
The city's plans for special projects such as art, landscaping and the expansion of Jerry Kline Park will complement the improved interchange. To reduce noise, a sound wall will be installed along the south side of I-40.
The project's cost is estimated at $19 million. Federal and state funds will make up the majority of the sum with $2 million coming from the City of Albuquerque.
"It will be a lot easier access-wise to accommodate more traffic, and a lot better and safer," Mahesh said.
