Interstate 40 in New Mexico

I 40 - New Mexico - Gallup to Albuquerque - YouTube

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Interstate 40 ( I-40 ), the main east-west route of the Interstate Highway System, runs east-west through Albuquerque in the state of New Mexico USA. This is a direct replacement for U.S. Historic Highway 66 (US $ 66).

Video Interstate 40 in New Mexico

Route description

Arizona to Albuquerque

When I-40 enters New Mexico in the northeast direction, it begins to follow the alternating River Puerco basin, roughly tracing the southern edge of the adjacent section of the Navajo Reservation in the state. The highway enters Gallup twenty miles (32 km) then aligns the main continental crossroads south of North Carolina. Leaving the now eastern Gallup is I-40 passes north of Fort Wingate and part of the fragmented Cibola National Forest before crossing the North American continent at an altitude of 7,275 ft (2,217 m), with 11,305 ft (3,446 m). Ãƒ, m) volcano stratavolution. Taylor towered eastward.

The highway crosses over the Navajo Reservation and the Cibola Forest before turning southeast and across the malpaÃƒÆ's. After serving exchanges near Grants, the highway, coinciding with the northern boundary of El Malpais National Monument, crossed another malpa, turned east and entered Acoma Indian Reservation, home of Acoma Pueblo. Route leaving Acoma Indian Reservation with Mt. Taylor headed north and entered the Pueblo Lagoon. Near the intersection with New Mexico State Road 6 (NM 6) the railway that accompanies many routes from the Arizona border diverts southward while the freeway turns east to northeast toward Albuquerque. Route departs Pueblo Lagoon, transit briefly Indian Tohajiilee Reservation (chapter of Navajo Nation), cross Rio Puerco and begin steep climb to mesa peak marked by some small cinder cones facing the gap of Rio Grande and Albuquerque.

From Laguna to Route 66 Casino, the I-40 has an in-class crossing with a number of ranch access paths that violate the Interstate Highway standard. This intersection is the remnant left over from converting US $ 66 to I-40 during the latter part of the 20th century.

Albuquerque Metro Area

Interstate 40 deviates from the alignment of US $ 66 (Central Avenue) at the intersection with Atrisco Vista Boulevard in West Mesa overlooking Albuquerque. I-40 down Nine Mile Hill upon entering the city of Albuquerque, and cut 98th Street, Unser Boulevard (NM 345) and Coors Boulevard (NM 45) before crossing the Rio Grande. The freeway then skirts the northern edge of downtown Albuquerque before cutting Interstate 25 at the 5-level pile junction (Big I). East I-25, I-40 continues east, then turn southeast past Uptown before cutting US $ 66 (now signed as NM 333/Central Avenue) on Tramway Boulevard (NM 556) as it leaves Albuquerque and enters Tijeras Canyon. Part I-40 is also referred to as Coronado Freeway.

Albuquerque to Texas

East Albuquerque, Interstate 40 crosses the Sandia-Manzano Mountains by crossing the Tijeras Pass, reaching a high point of 7,200 feet at Sedillo Ridge. Continuing east, I-40 descends from the mountains and enters the Estancia Valley as it passes through the town of Edgewood (m.m. 187). The highway continues east through the Estancia Valley, past Moriarty (m.m. 194). Prior to reaching Clines Corners, the I-40 climbed into Pedrenal Hills, a hilly area and an average low-level ridgelines of about 7,000 feet in altitude. East of Clines Corners, (m.m 217) I-40 gradually descends from the Pedrenal Hills area and into the High Plains in eastern New Mexico. In Santa Rosa (m.m 273) I-40 across the Pecos River, and then continue north-north cooperation with US $ 54 to Tucumcari. At Tucumcari, the I-40 deviates from US $ 54 and turns east and circles the northern edge of San Jon before reaching the Texas state line at Glenrio.

Maps Interstate 40 in New Mexico

History

The planning and construction of Interstate 40 via New Mexico began shortly after the Federal Highway Act of 1956 created the Interstate Highway System. The first part of the I-40 through the country was completed in 1960 including the short west part of Tucumcari in Quay County, from a point west of Santa Rosa west past Clines Corners to the east of Moriarty, along with sections on the eastern side of Albuquerque and other parts of nearby Cubero to Grants, which includes a new spur route connecting the Interstate Highway with US 66 on the east side of the city. Construction I-40, commonly aligning 66 USs in some parts and replacing older routes elsewhere, has been hobbled for several years during this decade by the New Mexico Legislative Act Anti-Pass laws that prohibit Interstate development cutting around city â€‹â€‹or city against it. The law was lifted in 1966 following the threat of loss of federal funds and most of New Mexico City along I-40, I-25 and I-10 subsequently drafted agreements with state and federal highway officials in determining where the route cuts around their municipality should be placed.

In the late 1960s, most of the I-40 rural areas were settled across the state with the greatest exception being 40 miles (64 km) east of Tucumcari to the Texas border in Glenrio, where traffic was diverted to the old. US 66. That part of the current highway becomes local and national known as "Slaughter Lane" because of the tremendous amount of traffic for the two-lane highway along with the rough and narrow paving that causes a lot of fatal traffic accidents and accidents reached the epidemic of numbers in 1968 and 1969. Construction in section I-40 was detained by a dispute in San Jon regarding the proposed I-40 route through the city to the north by about five miles (8 km), which was completed in November 1969 when federal and state officials agreed to take the bypass road closer to the city along the northern border. However, apart from a few small villages like Montoya, Newkirk, and Cuervo in the eastern states and Laguna, Budville and Cubero in the west, no major shortcuts have been completely resolved in New Mexico so traffic is still diverted to the US. 66 routes through each of these cities.

In 1970, the I-40 was fully completed through the city of Albuquerque. Other shortcuts are completed in various cities through countries including San Jon (1976) and Tucumcari (1981), Santa Rosa (1972), Moriarty (1973), Grants (1974) and Gallup (1980).