The Town of Bernalillo will begin the final phase of the Old Highway 44 rehabilitation on Nov. 18. This half-mile residential road connecting Highway 313 and Santa Ana Road will see bridge reconstruction over the Albuquerque Main Canal and installation of a 60-inch culvert.
According to Bernalillo public works director Troy Martinez at the Oct. 28 town council meeting, the Old Highway 44 bridge will remain closed until around April. The bridge reconstruction was supposed to begin on Nov. 1, but it was delayed due to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District’s continued irrigation which will conclude Nov. 15.
“It was primarily a result of the beating that Old 44 took during the 550 construction project, a lot of people were using it as a bypass,” Mayor Jack Torres said. “In fact, Google Maps had it as an alternate route over the river at one time. So there was just a huge amount of traffic that just took a toll on the road.”
The first phase of the road rehabilitation project repaved and repainted 95% of the road, which had been damaged by detour traffic.
Last year, on Oct. 9, the Town Council approved a $2.2 million state Department of Transportation grant through the Transportation Project Fund to cover the culvert and incidental work, with the town providing a 5% match of $111,000. Additionally, the DOT awarded a direct allocation to offset the bridge’s higher-than-expected final cost.
“I was adamant that we find a way to fund it because those residents really paid a heavy price during the 550 construction just trying to get out of their driveways,” Torres said. “This doesn’t make up for their inconveniences, but at least going forward, that road will be like a brand new road and a brand new bridge as well because it increases the capacity and strength of that bridge so it’s safer for everybody going through there.
According to the town’s website, the bridge project aims to improve driver sightlines, reduce vehicle speeds, replace outdated metal railings and repair the damaged structure of the bridge.
In response to community requests for more information, the town held its first public meeting on Oct. 22 to discuss the bridge project and gather feedback from residents who will be affected by the bridge closure.
Torres said most attendees asked about the road closure, its timing, and alternate routes. Eastbound drivers will be diverted to Ronald Drive or Highway 313, while westbound drivers will use Santa Ana Road to 550. In emergencies, the dirt road along the MRGCD ditch behind O’Reilly’s may also be used.
According to Torres, residents who were not able to attend the meeting can obtain slides and project plans from Town Hall for additional details.