Daytime I-40 construction resumes east of Gallup Monday, speed limit drops

Drivers heading east of Gallup will lose time again when crews return to Interstate 40, with daytime construction set to run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, a reduced 65 mph work-zone limit and two open lanes in each direction through the project area. The next phase begins Monday and is expected to last until late June or early July.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation said the work covers about three miles of I-40 east of Gallup and is part of a $47.7 million bridge replacement project near mileposts 29.04 to 30.4. Crews will rebuild both driving lanes and shoulders on the eastbound and westbound sides, replace three bridges on I-40 and New Mexico State Road 118, and add new metal guardrail, concrete barriers, drainage improvements and grading work.

The first phase is centered on NM 118 and the westbound bridge over I-40. During that phase, NM 118 is closed in the project area and traffic is detoured to I-40, while both eastbound and westbound lanes on I-40 remain open. That approach should keep the freeway moving, but it also means commuters, freight haulers and other drivers will still be sharing a narrowed corridor while heavy equipment is at work.

For McKinley County, the stakes are practical and immediate. I-40 is the main east-west route through Gallup, linking the community with eastern Arizona and the rest of New Mexico. Even without a full closure, lane restrictions can slow deliveries, trigger sudden braking near exits and stretch travel times for people moving through the Gallup area every day. The corridor is already under more than one improvement effort, including the I-40 Miyamura Interchange Study from milepost 21.7 to 23.7, which covers Miyamura Drive, Joseph M. Montoya Boulevard, Hasler Valley Road and NM 118, along with a drainage project about 14 miles east of Gallup near milepost 35.

NMDOT has said the broader focus is on rebuilding aging infrastructure and improving safety, but the work-zone risks remain real. The department has pointed to national data showing 891 people died in work zones in 2022, including 742 drivers and passengers and 94 highway workers. For Gallup-area drivers, the message is straightforward: slow down, expect delays and plan extra time while the corridor is rebuilt.