Public meeting to discuss Paseo project

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A public meeting to discuss the Paseo Del Norte/I-25 Interchange project is set for Tuesday February 12, 1013.

"If you have questions it's a great chance to get up to speed on the project," said Mayor R.J. Berry.

Voters approved the $93-million project last November.

Mayor Berry told KRQE News 13 in an interview Monday construction could start as early as this Fall.

"Then its approximately a two year project so the sooner we get started the sooner we can finish," Berry said.

Before anyone starts swinging hammers though the public will have another chance to weigh in on the massive re-do which will also include work along Interstate 25 from San Mateo to Alameda.

The state department of transportation should have a design-build contractor in place later this summer to do the work.

Even though the project is meant to ease the gridlock, Mayor Berry admitted the project may cause some new traffic jams.

"There will certainly be disruptions on a project of this size," The Mayor said.

That being said, the DOT plans to do a majority of the work overnight especially with the bridges over Paseo at Jefferson and the centerpiece of the project, the flyover from Northbound I-25 to Westbound Paseo Del Norte.

"Hopefully they can get a lot of that work done without any major disruption of traffic because its not taking up the current road way," said Mayor Berry.

The city said overall project may end up costing taxpayers less money too.

Mayor Berry said interest rates at this point are lower than expected.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Courtyard Marriott located at 5151 Journal Center Blvd. NE in the Kokopelli Ballroom.