A new $24 million bridge has opened on NM 566 near Church Rock, New Mexico, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and officials from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). The infrastructure project is designed to improve pedestrian safety in the area with the addition of a dedicated walking trail.
The steel girder bridge crosses the BNSF Railway and includes several upgrades: full bridge replacement, roadway reconstruction, improved lighting, upgraded drainage systems, and a new pedestrian trail that serves residents of Church Rock. The project was completed over 29 months and funded through both federal and state National Highway Performance Program funds. It involved collaboration between NMDOT District Six, the City of Gallup, and the Navajo Nation.
Governor Lujan Grisham stated, “This project demonstrates our commitment to protecting New Mexico families and improving access to every corner of our state. Every bridge we build, every trail we construct, and every safety improvement we make helps ensure no family has to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one in a preventable pedestrian accident.”
New Mexico has one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. The NMDOT aims to address this issue by building safer pathways for pedestrians.
NMDOT Secretary Ricky Serna said, “By working closely with the Navajo Nation and the City of Gallup, we’ve created safer, more direct access for the Church Rock community. New Mexico has long faced an urgent need to improve pedestrian safety, and this bridge delivers real solutions.”
