Valencia County Eyes Eastward Extension of Los Lunas Boulevard

Valencia County moved quickly from planning an interchange to scanning what comes next, announcing a contracted feasibility study on January 8 that examines whether Los Lunas Boulevard should continue east to the Manzano Expressway. The county hired Molzen Corbin to evaluate seven alternate alignments between N.M. 47 and the Manzano Expressway. The study is scheduled to run through the end of 2027 and will inform outreach, environmental review and design work intended to position the corridor for state or federal funding.

Grant manager Jeremias Silva identified right-of-way acquisition as the primary challenge and a major cost-driver. Early cost estimates placed the total project in the $70 million to $80 million range, with $10 million to $15 million potentially required to secure right-of-way. County planners said they hope to limit property impacts by using existing roads such as Orona Road and Omar Road where feasible, and by coordinating with state and federal legislators who supported the original Los Lunas Boulevard project.

The seven alternates under study all begin at N.M. 47 and end at the Manzano Expressway but differ in length, roadway use and property impacts. Alternate 1 would run 3.14 miles, utilize Orona Road and cross 115 parcels, 14 structures or homes, and six canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 2 would be 3.25 miles, also utilize Orona Road, and would cross 112 parcels, 15 structures or homes, and seven canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 3 would be 3.30 miles and would cross 107 parcels, 16 structures or homes, and seven canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 4 would be 3.25 miles, utilize Orona Road, and would cross 103 parcels, 17 structures or homes, and seven canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 5 would use Omar Road and Orona Road for a shorter 2.72-mile route that crosses 81 parcels, 24 structures or homes, and six canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 6 would be 3.15 miles, utilize Orona Road and connect to Airport Drive, and would cross 68 parcels, 16 structures or homes, and seven canals or irrigation ditches. Alternate 7 would be 3.06 miles, end at the Manzano Expressway with a connection to Airport Drive, and would cross 63 parcels, 17 structures or homes, and seven canals or irrigation ditches.

For residents, the study’s outcomes will shape future negotiations over property access and compensation, potential displacement of homes and the routing of irrigation and drainage infrastructure that supports local agriculture and acequia systems. Traffic relief and new economic opportunities are possible if the extension improves regional connectivity, but those benefits will be weighed against cost, environmental review findings and community input during the coming public engagement phase.

County officials intend to phase the work so segments can be built as funding becomes available. The feasibility study will determine which alignments best balance construction cost, right-of-way impacts and preservation of existing roads and irrigation networks as planners prepare for the next steps.