Overnight I-25 closures begin as Montgomery bridge demolition starts

Overnight traffic on Interstate 25 in Albuquerque was closed in both directions as crews began demolishing the old Montgomery Boulevard bridge, a five-night job running through July 2 and affecting the corridor from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The closures hit drivers traveling between the Montgomery off-ramps and on-ramps, pushing traffic onto the Pan American frontage roads before sending vehicles back to I-25 via Montgomery Boulevard. Eastbound and westbound Montgomery Boulevard was also closed between Culture NE and the northbound frontage road, forcing traffic onto Comanche Road, Carlisle Boulevard, Jefferson Street, Culture Drive and Edith Boulevard.

The work is part of the I-25 Montgomery to Comanche improvements project, which began in 2024 and is expected to be completed in spring 2027. The old Montgomery bridge had reached the end of its 75-year life span.

The broader project is designed to add a fourth lane in each direction, upgrade bridges and ramps, and install advanced U-turns at the Montgomery and Comanche interchanges to improve traffic flow and cut congestion. During the daytime, three travel lanes in each direction were expected to remain open between Comanche Road and Montgomery Boulevard, with the speed limit still reduced to 55 mph through the construction zone.

Commuters already have seen the impact in longer trip times, and one driver said the project had added about 20 minutes to a daily commute. Nearby back roads could get more congested as drivers try to avoid the overnight work, while homes and businesses near the corridor may face more noise, dust, vibration and lighting during construction.