ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Murals along one of the I-25 underpasses in Albuquerque have caught the eye of many passersby, and now the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
The murals sit on the concrete structure that is part of the base of I-25 at Lead Avenue SE and Oak Street SE. On the right side of the underpass, someone painted large potted plants and a window. On the left, more potted plants and a polar bear were painted.
Mural on I-25 underpass near Lead Avenue SE and Oak Street SE on April 17, 2024. (KRQE)
Murals on I-25 underpass near Lead Avenue SE and Oak Street SE on April 17, 2024. (KRQE)
NMDOT spokesperson Kimberly Gallegos said that the agency did not commission the murals and that crews will be removing them “probably within about the next two weeks.”
Gallegos said that NMDOT does allow approved artwork on its structures. If you’ve driven throughout New Mexico, you may notice that many of the highway overpasses and supporting structures are covered in art.
Gallegos provided a brief overview of the artwork selection process:
Those interested in adding artwork to an NMDOT public structure need to apply to the district via a permit and submit a plan with a document of support from a local governing body.
Artwork should not be a distraction and should express community values.
The imagery may not express any political or religious imagery of things that may offend common sensibilities.
The group must agree to maintain the artwork against weathering and graffiti.
In the permit process, NMDOT will post the image online for public comment.
More details on the process can be found here.
