District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis Applauds Funding for Paseo del Norte Reconstruction in Capital Improvement Budget

Albuquerque – Albuquerque District 5 City Councilor Dan Lewis today celebrated the Albuquerque City Council’s approval of the Capital Improvement Budget, which includes significant funding for rehabilitation and expansion of Paseo del Norte and Unser Boulevard.

"This is a monumental step forward for District 5 and the entire Westside of Albuquerque," said Councilor Lewis. "The Paseo del Norte expansion and rehabilitation of these critical arteries will significantly alleviate traffic congestion, improve emergency response times, and stimulate economic development in our community."

The Capital Improvement Budget allocates funding to support both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Paseo del Norte/Unser Boulevard project.

• Phase 1: Already funded and bid-awarded, this phase will begin construction late summer-early fall 2025. It will expand Paseo del Norte from Calle Norteña to Unser Boulevard and Unser Boulevard from Paseo del Norte to Paradise Road to a four-lane principal arterial, including a multi-use trail and stormwater improvements. This phase is projected to dramatically reduce traffic congestion that currently impacts areas as far as Fourth Street and Kimmick Road, and improve emergency services response times.
• Phase 2: The approved budget provides seed funding for Phase 2, which will extend the four-lane expansion of Paseo del Norte to Rainbow Boulevard and Unser Boulevard to Kimmick Road. This funding is intended to leverage additional capital from the State of New Mexico and Federal Highway Administration grants. Upon completion, Unser Boulevard will provide a continuous four-lane roadway from Blake Road in Albuquerque to Northern Boulevard in Rio Rancho, offering a crucial alternative to Coors Road/NM-528.

"For too long, the residents of Albuquerque’s Westside and Rio Rancho have relied solely on Coors Road/NM-528 for north-south travel," Councilor Lewis stated. "This project will create a much-needed alternative, significantly improving mobility and accessibility for hundreds of thousands of residents. I am thrilled that the Council has included this critical infrastructure improvement in the City’s Capital Improvement Budget.”