A new $24 million bridge has opened on NM 566 near Church Rock, New Mexico, aiming to improve pedestrian safety and access. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project, which includes a dedicated walking trail, improved lighting, upgraded drainage systems, and full roadway reconstruction.
The steel girder bridge spans the BNSF Railway and is designed to keep pedestrians off the highway. The project was completed in 29 months with funding from both federal and state National Highway Performance Program sources. Collaboration between NMDOT District Six, the City of Gallup, and the Navajo Nation was central to its completion.
“This project demonstrates our commitment to protecting New Mexico families and improving access to every corner of our state,” said Lujan Grisham. “Every bridge we build, every trail we construct, and every safety improvement we make helps ensure no family has to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one in a preventable pedestrian accident.”
New Mexico has one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. The addition of safe pathways like this bridge is part of NMDOT’s efforts to address these concerns.
“By working closely with the Navajo Nation and the City of Gallup, we’ve created safer, more direct access for the Church Rock community,” said NMDOT Secretary Ricky Serna. “New Mexico has long faced an urgent need to improve pedestrian safety, and this bridge delivers real solutions.”
