ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The city of Albuquerque is getting the west side ready for growing neighborhoods and businesses by improving its roads. Millions of dollars have gone into upgrading the area along Central and Unser, and there are plans to do more.
The city has finished the first part of a construction project they say will help growing neighborhoods and business hubs.
“We’re seeing a lot of new families move out and make their home on the West side in the Westgate neighborhood and here at the city we’re building a lot of projects there in the west gate neighborhood, the Southwest Safety Center is going in out there,” says Dan Mayfield from the Department of Municipal Development.
The first phase of upgrades was from Unser to 90th street and included re-paving the westbound lanes of Central, adding a 10-foot bicycle lane, a frontage road, and overhead LED lights.
The project cost nearly six-million dollars over eight months to complete. Businesses in the area say the improvements were long overdue, especially the lights.
“At night it’s not as dark anymore, I also think we spent a long time without a bicycle lane, which I think is necessary,” says Dylan Door, barber at Luvia’s Beauty Salon.
“You know it’s good to have more lights here too because sometimes homeless pass and cars are coming and it’s dangerous for them,” says Teodora Hidalgo, employee at Don Sushi Food Truck.
One person we spoke to today, says he has started walking along the area now that it’s well lit.
“These ones are perfect because people can walk, they can walk to like the taco shops right here,” says Branden Olyvas, local resident.
The city says they plan to continue construction from 90th to 98th. They say this next phase will include similar upgrades. The city says the design process for the next phase will begin this fall with construction starting in 2026.
