In 2011, the Bernalillo County Public Works Department began a process to develop the Bridge Boulevard Corridor Redevelopment Plan for the section of Bridge Boulevard between Coors Boulevard and the Barelas Bridge. The purpose of the plan was to identify strategies to support livability principles within the local community while effectively moving regional traffic through the corridor. The Plan was adopted by the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners in 2013 and included zoning updates, roadway infrastructure recommendations, the identification of catalytic areas with redevelopment potential, and proposed phasing for improvement implementation.
In order to begin implementation of portions of the Redevelopment Plan, Bernalillo County Public Works Department, in cooperation with Federal Highway Administration and New Mexico Department of Transportation, proposes to reconstruct Bridge Boulevard from Coors Boulevard to 8th Street. Traffic between Coors Boulevard and Old Coors Drive would also be redirected to a reconstructed Tower Road, which is identified as a principal arterial in the Mid-Region Council of Government’s 2004 Long Range Roadway System Plan.
Design Process
The Bridge Boulevard project corridor is approximately 3.54 miles. Implementation of the project is expected to be completed in five phases:
Phase 1:
Tower Road from Coors Boulevard to Bridge Boulevard and Bridge Boulevard from Carlos Rey Drive to Lura Place
Phase 2:
Young Avenue to Riverside Drain
Phase 3:
Lura Place Boulevard to Young Avenue
Phase 4:
Riverside Drain to 8th Street
Phase 5:
Pedestrian Improvements on Barelas Bridge and ITS Signal Improvements
Phase 1 design began in April 2015 and Phase 2 design began in 2017. Design and construction of the remaining segments may occur in a different sequence, dependent on funding and timing of separate concurrent projects within the area.
Environmental Assessment
Bernalillo County Public Works Department prepared an Environmental Assessment that focused on broad issues for the entire project corridor, and identified future environmental analysis to be completed during each design phase. No construction related activities were authorized as a result of the Environmental Assessment.
There will be several opportunities to offer input during each phase of the project. More information on how to participate in the design process can be found at Participate
Roadway Design
Each phase of the roadway design process will follow the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Location Study Procedures guidelines. The project team will use the “Main Street” conceptual designs developed during the Redevelopment Plan process to obtain additional information, including right-of-way requirements, costs, performance data, environmental surveys, utility information, and public input. The conceptual designs will be further evaluated and refined and reviewed in the environmental document for each phase.
Environmental documents will be prepared for each design phase. The environmental documents will address site-specific conditions, project impacts, costs, mitigation measures, and any necessary design adjustments. The phase-specific environmental documents will be the decision documents that authorize construction activities.
All decisions on roadway design, utilities, intersection configurations, and aesthetic treatments will be made during the design phase for each segment. Design decisions will be made through evaluation of roadway operations, constructability, cost, public input, and environmental impacts.
Upcoming Events
No events scheduled.
Submit comments through this website or by emailing: info@bridgeboulevard.com
Opportunities to learn about the design and offer input and feedback will be available through:
Detailed studies to be performed during design phase
Level of environmental documentation for each design phase
April 2015 to 2021
Phase I - Tower Road from Coors Boulevard to Bridge Boulevard and Bridge Bouelvard from Carlos Rey Drive to Lura Place
Preliminary design
Public input
Environmental document
Final design
Construction
2018 to 2022
Phase 2 - Young Avenue to Riverside Drain
Preliminary design
Public input
Environmental document
Final design
Construction expected to begin 2022
2021-2022
Phase 3 - Lura Place to Young Avenue
Preliminary design
Public input
Environmental document
Final design
Construction to be determined depending on funding
TBD
Future Phase 4 - Segment to be determined
Public input
Environmental document
Final design
Construction to be determined depending on funding
TBD
Future Phase 5- Segment to be determined
Preliminary design
Public input
Environmental document
Final design
Construction to be determined depending on funding
Documents
Corridor Map
Redevelopment Plan
Redevelopment Plan Appendices
Newsletters
May 2015 Public Meeting
Environmental Assessment
January 2016 Public Meeting
April 2018 Public Meeting
FAQs
Design
Funding
Other
Contact Us
Your participation in the process is vital to the future of Bridge Boulevard. Opportunities will be available for you to give input throughout the design process and there are multiple ways to get involved:
Sign up for a project mailing list to receive updates on the project and be notified of upcoming meetings and events.
Attend and participate in public meetings and informal open houses that will be scheduled.
Regularly access our project website to stay up-to-date on plan progress, upcoming meetings and events, review documents, and submit comments.
Q. What are the "Main Street" concepts in the Redevelopment Plan?
The "Main Street" concepts include the follwing features:
Construction mainly within the existing right-of-way
Landscaped medians
Enhanced pedestrian areas with wider sidewalks and improved lighting
Improved transit (bus) facilities
Improved traffic flow, reduced speeds, improved safety with more access control
Q. Will Bridge Boulevard be closed at Old Coors Road?
The 2004 Long Range Roadway System Plan for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Area identifies Tower Road as the principal arterial west of Old Coors. The Redevelopment Plan recommends making Tower Road the principal arterial west of Old Coors, and tying into Tower. This follows the 2004 Long Range Roadway System Plan approved by the Mid-Region Council of Governments
Q. Are roundabouts being considered at the Isleta Boulevard and Five Points intersections with Bridge Boulevard?
Intersection configurations will be determined during final design of each phase. Roundabouts offer benefits, including:
Increased safety – Roundabouts result in fewer crashes, less severe injuries, and fewer deaths.
Better traffic flow – Traffic keeps moving.
Shorter wait times – Traffic on Bridge may double over the next 20 years; roundabouts will help with wait times.
Less pollution – Less waiting at long lights means less pollution
No left turn lanes
Opportunities for landscaping and art
Q. Are there alternatives to roundabouts?
Yes. Traditional signalized intersections could remain at the intersections. Additional left-turn and right turn lanes will be needed at both Five Points and Isleta, which will require more right-of-way than roundabouts. The roundabout and traditional signalized intersection concepts will be reevaluated during future design phases.
Q. Will access to businesses be restricted?
The conceptual designs include access control, including medians and consolidated driveways. Access to businesses will not be restricted but may be adjusted to different access points. There will be close coordination with property and business owners during the design phases.
Q. Who makes decisions on the roadway design?
The Bernalillo County Public Works Division will make design decisions, following a thorough evaluation of existing and projected roadway operations, constructability, cost, public input, and environmental impacts. The Federal Highway Administration and the New Mexico Department of Transportation will either approve the plans or request revisions.
Funding
Q. How will roadway improvements be funded?
Roadway improvements will come through local and federal funding. Funding currently programmed for this project in the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s 2014 – 2017 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program includes $2.4 million in local funds and $14.1 million in federal funds.
Other
Q. Will sewer, water, and drainage infrastructure be improved with the Bridge Boulevard project?
During design, the County will coordinate with other agencies on potential utility infrastructure improvements during roadway construction.
Q. Will the County need to acquire private property?
Additional right-of-way will likely be needed at major intersections. If additional right-of-way is needed, County staff will meet with landowners to discuss purchasing property at fair market value.
Q. What about comments that were submitted during the Redevelopment Plan process?
There was very good participation during the Redevelopment Plan process and a record of comments was compiled. Those comments are being carried forward for consideration in the design phase as they relate to roadway design. Continued participation and public input is extremely important for the future of Bridge Boulevard.
