C+S December 2023 Vol. 9 Issue 12 (web)

and serving as a backup during emergencies or closures due to construction. The project’s location crosses a superfund site, which made special drainage measures–such as realigning the groundwater remediation system while ensuring the treatment facility experienced no downtime. Furthermore, the project included the removal of old remediation water lines in an environmentally-safe way, demonstrating that the care invested in design and construction will further support site rehabilitation to open opportunities for economic development along the corridor. Technical Aspects • Revision of roadway section to include protected bicycle/pedestrian lanes based on community input • Innovative bridge construction technique using a steel triangle and Kevlar straps, allowing one crane to pass a girder to a second crane while suspended overhead • Reduction of construction costs through innovative design solutions

Background The Sunport Boulevard Extension created a new roadway corridor between I-25 and Broadway near the Albuquerque International Sunport with the road of improving the roadway system and multimodal connectivity from the I-25/Sunport Interchange to Broadway Boulevard and Second Street. Beyond boosting transportation connectivity, the project aims to enhance access to existing and prospective economic hubs, balance traffic, alleviate congestion by adding another link to the arterial system, expand multimodal options, and boost emergency accessibility. The design was split into two portions: the I-25/Sunport Interchange Reconfiguration and the Roadway Extension from I-25 to Broadway. The four-lane divided highway also features a protected bike lane, shielded from traffic with a concrete wall barrier. The design also incorporated bridge crossings: two twin single-span bridges cross Edmunds Road and a three-span bridge over the South Diversion Channel. Construction on the extension portion of Sunport went to bid in April 2021, and the new roadway was completed in June 2023. Impact The Sunport Boulevard project is a much-needed transportation infrastructure solution that bridges a significant gap in the local transportation network, providing improved multimodal transportation options for pedestrians and cyclists while also easing traffic congestion

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December 2023

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