ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – They’ve spent weeks tearing out concrete, now get ready for even louder noise on I-25 through Albuquerque, with state road crews starting a big new phase of the Montgomery Interchange project. In the middle of replacing the Montgomery I-25 overpass, contractors are now driving giant steel piles into the ground, a loud process that should last for weeks.
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“So pile driving is when crews hammer steel piles into the ground to support the foundation for a new bridge and this will hold up for decades to come,” said Kimberly Gallegos, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Through the end of November, crews will be driving steel into the ground starting as early as seven in the morning. As many as 44 steel piles will be installed during the first phase with an additional 44 piles in the months ahead. Crews started the work on Thursday and say most of this phase will take place in the daytime.
“The process in itself is going to be happening more so during the day than at night because it does cause a lot more noise and vibration for businesses and residents in the area,” said Gallegos.
Thursday was mostly a test and crews have already found a harder-than-expected layer of ground about three-quarters of the way down. NMDOT says they’ll resume piling on Thursday hoping this test phase lets them finish the rest of the pile driving on schedule.
“Our crews are working around the clock, we’re moving into this next phase and we want to thank drivers. We realize that this impacts the public during their commutes,” said Gallegos.
Lane closures around the project will return next week when Balloon Fiesta ends. That process also includes closures on the nearby Frontage roads north of the project where crews will soon start to replace other bridges over the North Diversion Channel. The state has text and email updates available for drivers interested in the project status on their website.
