Interstate problem spot to be fixed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - It is a stretch of northbound I-25 that is dangerous and always seems to be backed up, it’s Comanche where the right lane ends and the bottlenecks begin, but crews are about to fix it.

Comanche to Montgomery is only a half-mile long but during rush-hour it can feel a whole lot longer for drivers.

“There’s people trying to come over on the outside lane that is closing in and it gets really congested on the two right sides and there is a lot of back up happening,” said driver Rita Abeyta.

She said she avoids the area altogether, instead using the frontage road to get home.

Commuter Nathaniel Medina drives it everyday.

“It’s insane, it’s almost like you’re in California or something,” Medina said.

The problem started after the completion of the Big-I just south of there a decade ago, since then it has steadily gotten worse.

In order to allow Comanche traffic onto the freeway cars are merging to the left because the far right lane ends at the same time, a lot of drivers are merging to the right to get off on the Montgomery exit up ahead.

“Over the years, there’s been issues out there as far as accidents and difficulties merging so consequently, we’re finally at a point where we can prioritize this, put some money in it,” said NMDOT Spokesperson Phil Gallegos.

The $2 million solution, the far right lane will not end any more, it will go all the way to Jefferson.

“There are some areas there where we’re going to have to move some barrier wall, we’re going to have to move some of those big overhead signs, add wall, and add guardrails,” Gallegos said.

The project is expected to begin in June and should only take two months, with most of the work being done overnight to minimize the inconvenience to drivers.

Divers KRQE News 13 spoke with said no matter what the department of transportation does to fix the issues here it is still up to drivers to make it work.

“You can do whatever you want, you can’t fix stupidity and impatience,” said Medina.