I-40 reconstruction project to affect travel in west side of ABQ

For Rio Rancho area residents heading into Albuquerque, there are some traffic changes coming.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will soon be closing off parts of Interstate 40 on the west side of Albuquerque.

Nighttime construction between 98^th Street and Unser Boulevard will happen Thursday night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.

Motorists using the 98^th Street and Unser I-40 on-and-off ramps may need to find alternate routes due to several closures beginning Friday and lasting about two months, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

The closures include the I-40 at 98^th Street eastbound on-ramp and loop on-ramp, the I-40 at 98^th Street westbound off-ramp, the I-40 at Unser westbound on-ramp, and the I-40 at Unser eastbound off-ramp. These closures are required to complete the next phase of the $19.5 million I-40 roadway reconstruction project.

Starting on Friday, wall barriers will be put in place and the two inside lanes of traffic will be open to eastbound and westbound motorists.

Work will happen from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, weather permitting.

For more, visit http://nmroads.com or call 511 for the latest project updates.

NM DOT District 3 is overseeing the project and Mountain States Constructors, Inc. out of Albuquerque is performing the work.