Best of New Mexico: I-40 San Mateo to Pennsylvania
Submitted by Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects, Gannett Fleming West, NMDOT and AUI, Inc.
I-40 San Mateo to Pennsylvania was one of the most challenging reconstruction projects in New Mexico in recent years. On weekdays, the traffic flow exceeds 155,000 vehicles per day through the project site, the next-to-last in a series designed to widen and improve I-40 through Albuquerque. With only 300 days allowed for completion, this project required the addition of one traffic lane in each direction, pavement rehabilitation for existing lanes and underground utility construction, chiefly for drainage improvements. Constructing noise walls close to developed areas without damaging existing structures was one of the most challenging aspects of the project. This was resolved by using a combination of H-pile pilasters with drilled shaft foundation.