Heinrich, Luján Welcome $25 Million For Design, Construction Of New Highway Infrastructure Project For Village of Los Lunas
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are welcoming $25 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Village of Los Lunas.
The funding will be used to design and construct a new interchange on I-25 at Morris Road, a river crossing, four signalized intersections, and approximately four miles of four-lane highway. Los Lunas has experienced heavy commuter traffic and this interchange will work to relieve congestion caused by traffic, railway crossings, and construction.
“I’m proud to see this hard-fought pursuit for better highway infrastructure and public safety come to fruition,” said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I congratulate Mayor Griego and the Village of Los Lunas. I’ll keep fighting for similar funding across the state.”
“Our roads and highways are crucial for commercial services, tourism, and for everyday New Mexicans to navigate our state. After a years-long effort to secure this funding, I’m glad that $25 million will go toward improving highway infrastructure and traffic safety in Los Lunas,” said Luján, a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “This funding will make a real difference in the lives of New Mexicans and all who travel through central New Mexico.”
This grant is a result of a multi-year effort to secure funding by Senators Heinrich and Luján and the rest of the New Mexico Democratic delegation. This includes a letter to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressing support for this specific project.
“For over 20 years we’ve been working to start construction on a new interchange along Interstate 25, a river crossing, four signalized intersections, and four miles of four-lane highway on I-25. With the help of our partners on the project like the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the County of Valencia, and other local government entities we were able to make this a reality. I thank Senator Heinrich and Senator Luján and our representatives for all of their efforts,” said Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego.
The funding is being awarded through DOT’s INFRA grant program. This program is designed for states to complete large-scale projects that address national and regional highway and bridge infrastructure issues – beyond the scope of other discretionary programs.
Senator Heinrich is also leading a bipartisan effort in the senate to have DOT adopt an initiative to make the INFRA grant program more equitable, opening the door for more projects like this across New Mexico.
