DOT puts almost $2 million into PDV to Rainbow extension

BERNALILLO — The New Mexico Department of Transportation entered into a capital outlay grant agreement with Sandoval County for the Paseo del Volcan extension project, which the commission approved at the Feb. 12 meeting.

“This is a big deal,” Chair Mike Meek said.

The grant, valued at $1.8 million, will fund a small section of the overall PDV extension “to plan, design and construct and improvements to Paseo del Volcan from Unser Boulevard to Rainbow road in Sandoval County,” the grant resolution states.

The scope of the work involves new road construction with proper drainage and lighting.

According to DOT’s website, they issued capital outlay money to this section of road in the amount of $2.2 million in 2023 as well.

The grant comes after DOT studied the next phase of the project, which extends PDV from Rainbow Road to Interstate 40, last summer.

At the time, County Manager Wayne Johnson said the project could take two or more years to reach the construction phase with the ever-changing project budget playing a big part in the extended timeline

When completed, Paseo del Volcan would be a 30.6-mile road stretched between U.S. 550 and Interstate 40, snaking through Rio Rancho, Sandoval County, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque. Seven miles of the road is already constructed, from U.S. 550 to Unser Boulevard. The road would extend west from there, then swing south on the west side of Double Eagle II Airport to I-40.

Currently, the Unser to Rainbow segment of the road is in the design phase. The grant will help take the project into construction phase.